Review: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Car by Kate Dopirak

TWINKLE, TWINKLE LITTLE CAR

by Kate Dopirak

Illustrated by Mary Peterson

Picture Book

ages 4 to 8

A little red car beeps good night to all of his four-wheeled friends in this fresh take on the classic song, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”

Twinkle, twinkle, little car,
how you love to travel far.
Now it’s time to go to bed.
But you want to drive instead.

It’s time for Little Car to go to sleep, but he isn’t tired yet! So he cruises around town saying goodnight to all of his friends, from the tractors in their shed to the buses and taxis in town to the cranes and diggers at the construction site. Finally exhausted, Little Car putt-putts home where at last his beep-beep dreams begin.

 MY TIDBITS

Taking an original twist on the well-known song, this book follows an energetic car who isn't quite ready for bed.

It's time for bed, but Little Car isn't ready to call it a night. He zooms through town, visiting everything from planes to tractors to firetrucks as he burns off energy so he can slow down to a good night's sleep.

Young car fans will enjoy this book. Little Car is cute and just right for the younger crowd as he brums off onto the road. His encounters with trucks, tractors, airplanes and more are just the kind of thing little motor vehicle fans love to see. By placing the rhyme into a well-known children's song, the entire book gains a very familiar feel children will find reassuring and fun. However, singing it might grow a bit redundant.

The illustrations are bright and simple, great for the younger listeners to peer at and enjoy. The text is also very fitting, and the rhythm flows nicely the entire way through. Some of the ideas in the rhymes came across a bit long-grabbed, but this isn't something younger listeners will notice.

Summed up, this is a wonderful read for all those who dream of cars and other vehicles, but I would recommend it for a slightly younger audience, ages 2 to 4.



And here they are. . .

The Author. . .
Kate Dopirak loves walking her puppy, watching her sons play basketball, and convincing her husband to share a cheese plate instead of wings. She also loves to write for kids. Kate is a teacher, a reading specialist, and the Assistant Regional Advisor for Western Pennsylvania SCBWI. She is the author of You're My Boo and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Car. Visit her at KateDopirak.com.

The Illustrator. . .

Mary Peterson was born and rasied in Iowa on a small family farm surrounded by cornfields and lots of animals. Those early years in the company of critters large and small continue to provide inspiration for her art. She is the illustrator of many books ofr children and lives in Los Angeles, California.