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Puppy Truck

Illustrated by Brian Pinkney

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About The Book

A School Library Journal Best Picture Book of 2019!

Find out what happens when a boy who wants a puppy gets a truck instead in this simple and sweet picture book from Caldecott Honor winner Brian Pinkney.

Vroom…beep…bark!

Carter wants a puppy, but he gets a truck instead. So he pets it, puts a leash around it, and takes it to the park.

But the truck won’t sit still! What will Carter do with his rascally Puppy Truck?

About The Author

Photograph © Christine Simmons
Brian Pinkney

Brian Pinkney has illustrated numerous acclaimed books for children, including Martin Rising; In Your Hands; On the Ball; The Faithful Friend; Duke Ellington; and In the Time of the Drums. His many awards include two Caldecott Honors, a Coretta Scott King Illustration Award, four Coretta Scott King Illustration Honors, and the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. Brian lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and frequent collaborator, Andrea Davis Pinkney. Visit him at BrianPinkney.net.

About The Illustrator

Photograph © Christine Simmons
Brian Pinkney

Brian Pinkney has illustrated numerous acclaimed books for children, including Martin Rising; In Your Hands; On the Ball; The Faithful Friend; Duke Ellington; and In the Time of the Drums. His many awards include two Caldecott Honors, a Coretta Scott King Illustration Award, four Coretta Scott King Illustration Honors, and the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. Brian lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and frequent collaborator, Andrea Davis Pinkney. Visit him at BrianPinkney.net.

Why We Love It

“Kids love pets—and they love trucks. This book is the perfect mash-up of two childhood favorites.” —Reka S., Editorial Director, on Puppy Truck!

Product Details

  • Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (June 25, 2019)
  • Length: 40 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781534426870
  • Ages: 5 - 8
  • Lexile ® 190L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®

Raves and Reviews

* “Pinkney returns to an artistic style similar to On The Ball with simple, colorful, and energetic illustrations. . . . Full of onomatopoeic lines, this would be an excellent storytime read for an audience that loves trucks or puppies, or hopefully both. A first purchase that is sure to please.”

– School Library Journal, starred review

“Pinkney’s swooping, ribbonlike ink lines and splashes of bright color pop off the cream-colored pages. Detailing is minimal and evocative. . . . A joyful celebration of imagination at play.”

– Publishers Weekly

"Pinkney brings this story to life with a pale-yellow background for the acrylic and India ink illustrations, in which the swift movements of the boy, Puppy Truck, and the squirrel are ever apparent. Since this story has so few words, preschool readers will easily be able to tell it on their own after a few times of hearing it read aloud. An important mirror book for the youngest of black and brown readers, this lighthearted story will likely be a favorite for storytime—especially with little ones who love things that go VROOM!"

– Kirkus Reviews

"The artwork, resembling sketches with its free-flowing figures outlined in india ink, are loosely filled in using bright, cheerful acrylics. . . . An encounter with another child who has an equally intense imagination opens the possibility of more adventures for Carter and his new best friend."

– Booklist

“Vibrant, saturated tones and swirling shapes, only semi-contained by thick black outlines, reflect the protagonist in motion and highlight the warmth and comfort of his (grown-up free) imaginary play. . . . The sound effects interspersed throughout the straightforward main text provide lots of opportunities to make both animal sounds and truck noises—a win-win for a large subset of preschoolers.”

– The Horn Book

Awards and Honors

  • SLJ Best Book of the Year

Resources and Downloads

High Resolution Images

More books from this author: Brian Pinkney