Not Just the Driver!

January 22, 2024
Readers don’t have to be vehicle aficionados to appreciate these pages: by spotlighting a behind-the-scenes workforce, Ackerman (The Gabi That Girma Wore) and Neubecker (Just Like Rube Gold-
berg) expand their audiences’ apertures in terms of both awareness and appreciation. As the title hints, it’s not “just” those piloting machines—by air, land, or water—who make vehicles go. In a busy harbor, for example, where the blue, white-capped water is filled with cargo ships, fishing and pleasure boats, ferries, and even a mini-sub, more than captains are doing the work. Harbormasters are essential, too: “From an office perched on land,/ calm dispatchers lend a hand..../ They study routes. They double-check./ TOOT, TOOT, TOOT—all hands on deck!” Choreographing bustle and variety, thick-lined visuals bring snappy, dramatic rhymes to life. “Teamwork helps the world to move,” after all, and readers will appreciate insight into how, behind each kind of transport, many people work to ensure the journey runs safe and smooth. Figures are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Tricia Lawrence, Erin Murphy Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt.

February 15, 2024
A paean to air-traffic controllers, bus mechanics, subway signal maintainers, and the other support personnel who ensure that transportation systems work. Snappy rhyming verse introduces the question: "Who guides floating fleets with ease / and water-travel expertise? / Who checks weather, minds the clocks, / brings the ferry in to docks?" A car ferry, yacht, fishing boat, container ship, and more--even a green submarine with yellow polka dots--crowd the waters in a representative double-page spread. With the turn of the page, readers see the answer, rendered in jaunty, blocky lettering: "IT'S NOT JUST THE CAPTAIN!" The verse continues, detailing the work of the land-based dispatchers, who sit in an office on the wharf labeled "Harbormaster" as the ferry pulls in to its berth. Support crews for buses, trucks, subways, trains, and planes are also introduced, with Neubecker's characteristically busy cartoons depicting happy passengers and workers of many different racial and gender presentations; one, a harbormaster, uses a wheelchair. The verse rollicks along as smoothly as these varied vehicles move, carrying readers through concise descriptions of jobs and roles they may never have considered, until they reach the final, exuberant line: "TEAMWORK HELPS THE WORLD TO MOVE!" Picture-book shelves are groaning with celebrations of transportation, but this one stands out in its salutary commitment to shining a spotlight on support teams. A warmly inclusive addition to the things-that-go genre. (author's note) (Picture book. 3-6)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 1, 2024
This spirited look at a range of mass transportation vehicles showcases some of the vital but less visible jobs involved in making them move. "Who makes buses rev and go / through detours, gridlock, storms, and snow? / Block by block, who smooths the journey -- / potholed, hilly, twisty, turn-y? / IT'S NOT JUST THE DRIVER!" The book goes on to celebrate the role of the mechanic who proactively inspects the bus for safety and keeps it running. Continuing in this pattern, the text and art feature the subway's signal maintainer as well as the operator, the train's ticket agent along with the engineer, the plane's air traffic controller in addition to the pilot, and more. Full of small, amusing details to notice, the bright digital illustrations clarify how a team of people works together to get a complex job done. The engaging pages are packed with vehicles, transportation workers, and passengers. The whirlwind of activity flows visually to demonstrate the efficacy of the busy system running smoothly. This distinctive transportation book with its chirpy, rhyming text appeals to a young vehicle-loving audience while capturing the complicated and often overlooked aspects involved in keeping systems moving. An author's note provides more for readers to consider, including several questions: e.g., "Would you like to work on a team that makes transportation go? Which important job would you choose?" Julie Roach

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

October 18, 2024

PreS-Gr 2-Buckle up for an action-packed adventure that takes readers on a journey to uncover the unsung heroes behind the transportation systems. This is a delightful and informative book that shines a spotlight on the teams of people who work together to keep everything moving, from the planes above, subways below, and everything in between. With engaging rhymes and vibrant illustrations, this book whisks readers away to the skies, streets, and tunnels, revealing the intricate web of professionals who design, build, communicate, and control transportation networks. Ackerman and Neubecker celebrate the often-overlooked individuals, from air traffic controllers to maintenance crews, who make travel possible. Perfect for early learners, this simple book introduces the concept of teamwork and collaboration in a fun and accessible way. VERDICT This charming book is an excellent addition to any library, encouraging young readers to appreciate the collective effort that keeps the world moving.-Jessica Clark

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2024
This spirited look at a range of mass transportation vehicles showcases some of the vital but less visible jobs involved in making them move. "Who makes buses rev and go / through detours, gridlock, storms, and snow? / Block by block, who smooths the journey -- / potholed, hilly, twisty, turn-y? / IT'S NOT JUST THE DRIVER!" The book goes on to celebrate the role of the mechanic who proactively inspects the bus for safety and keeps it running. Continuing in this pattern, the text and art feature the subway's signal maintainer as well as the operator, the train's ticket agent along with the engineer, the plane's air traffic controller in addition to the pilot, and more. Full of small, amusing details to notice, the bright digital illustrations clarify how a team of people works together to get a complex job done. The engaging pages are packed with vehicles, transportation workers, and passengers. The whirlwind of activity flows visually to demonstrate the efficacy of the busy system running smoothly. This distinctive transportation book with its chirpy, rhyming text appeals to a young vehicle-loving audience while capturing the complicated and often overlooked aspects involved in keeping systems moving. An author's note provides more for readers to consider, including several questions: e.g., "Would you like to work on a team that makes transportation go? Which important job would you choose?"

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)