Big Truck, Little Island by Chris Van Dusen
Published by Candlewick Press on May 3, 2022
ISBN: 1536203939
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

The back cover of Van Dusen’s book is not covered with tag lines from other people saying how wonderful it is. No, the back cover just has a lovely 3-sentence story summary (opening with “There’s a truck stuck in the road!”) stating the issue and a picture of the four children characters who collaboratively problem solve their way to a creative solution. The Author’s Note describes the real-life event of what happened with a big truck on a little island. The story book version presented with Van Dusen’s identifiable gouache illustrations and rhythmic text uses the lives of four children to set the problem that they then work together to devise and present to their parents the plan that solves the situation. This is a lovely picture book for topics of cooperation and problem solving, as well as friendliness and island life. All fans of Van Dusen’s books will need to add this to their picture book collection.

Reviewed by Betsey Noble, Dresden Elementary School