a cool, damp forest,
over a wide river,
and into a city.
There were lots
of people."
I have long admired Barbara McClintock's storytelling, both in text and illustration. Meeting Annie is pure delight. Annie is a girl after my own heart: fearsome, adventurous, imaginative and spirited. You know it when you see her - pajama-clad, helmeted, and gloved, she has adventure on her mind.
Sure enough! She jumps into her race car and out her bedroom window she roars. Driving down roads that are 'straight and flat' is only the beginning. It isn't long until she is climbing hills, zooming through a desert, and navigating the narrow path in a forest. Then, onto a bridge leading directly into a huge city, filled with people and traffic congestion. Nothing fazes this brave adventurer. Tired from her travels she returns home, roars up the stairs and through the living room to her own bedroom, where she settles in for a bedtime read about CARS.
Perfectly plotted, simple text allows readers to experience the drama and daring of an imagined break from familiarity for this spunky little girl. The delightful panoramas are filled with wonder and adventure. Readers will be fascinated by each new scene, all chronicling an adventure that they would love to have themselves. The details are special: the rear view mirror images, the watchful city spectators, a sudden breakaway from the crowded streets, the many hints in her bedroom of her love for racing. Is that a Danica Patrick poster?
My admiration remains constant and strong.
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