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Saturday, August 9, 2014

GO! GO! GO! STOP! Written and illustrated by Charise Mericle Harper. Alfred A. Knopf, Random House. 2014. $18.99 ages 2 and up

"It was perfect timing.
Naptime was just ending.
Bulldozer was the first to
wake up. "I'm going to
surprise Dump Truck," he
said, and he pushed his load
of dirt to the top of the hill.

Soon everyone was awake
and working on the new
bridge."

Little Green knows only one word: GO! He's good at using it; so, he inspires some forward momentum in the work needed to repair a bridge. His arrival is perfect in its timing. The various vehicles have had a break, and a short nap. They get right to work...lifting, scooping, pushing, mixing, holding.

"Tow Truck towed terrifically.
Crane carried carefully.
Dump Truck dumped dependably.
Mixer mixed marvellously.
And Backhoe waved his long arms in the air."

It's all humming right along. They're working quickly, until they aren't! It's too much too fast.

Luckily, another little round dot shows up. It's Little Red. He knows only one word: STOP!
Just what the doctor ordered. Both are imperative to the task at hand. Sorting out how best to handle the conflicting directions takes time and a great deal of patience. Although opposite, they finally learn to work together. Boy, Howdy! Finally, things are very smoothly moving toward completion of the project.

Once finished, the bridge offers all the convenience they had hoped it would. It's busy, and the traffic moves briskly. Just on time, another stranger pulls into town. His additional message is the perfect solution to any problems that might arise.

The digital images created to accompany this colorful tale are just right for the target audience. Little ones will have much to discuss as they watch all the action, and even add their own voices to the directions being given.

It's quite the task to learn how to work together cooperatively. Young listeners are sure to understand that it takes everyone to make that work productive and satisfying.

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