Review: Small Walt Spots Dot by Elizabeth Verdick

SMALL WALT SPOTS DOT

by Elizabeth Verdick

Illustrated by Marc Rosenthal

Simon &Schuster

Picture Book

48 pages

ages 4 to 8

“Every young child deserves to know Small Walt.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Small Walt meets a stray puppy in this irresistible companion to Small Walt, which Kirkus Reviews called “charming and endearing” in a starred review.

We’re Gus and Walt.
We plow and salt.
No job’s too small.
We give our all!

Walt and his driver Gus are plowing a parking lot when the see—whoa! What’s that? A blur of fur! Pup on the loose! Can snowplow Small Walt and driver Gus save the stray and save the day? 

 

       

BOOK DEPOSITORY

MY TIDBITS

This isn't the first Small Walt book I've read, and it  (hopefully) won't be the last.

Small Walt is a snowplow with tons of heart. While he does have a driver, Gus, it's Small Walt who stars and steers in these tales. In this one, the two are plowing away when they discover something unexpected—a puppy! This poor stray pup can't survive in the snow all by itself. So, Small Walt is there to do his best and help as he can.

The illustrations in this book are fun, detailed and give tons for young listeners/readers to watch and follow. They colors are bright and bold, and the images portray exactly the scenes and emotions. In other words, this is the type of book which kids will want to pick up on their own and flip through the adventure again and again.

This isn't only a book for truck, tractor and snowplow fans, but is simply a warming tale. It's hard not to feel for the puppy as they find it...and what a lovely dog it is! The problem will be something kids can relate to and sympathize with. The solution comes with thought, friendship, a little adventure and tons of heart. It's simply a lovely tale and just right to read during the upcoming, colder months. 

Review: Small Walt and Mo the Tow by Elizabeth Verdick

SMALL WALT AND MO THE TOW

by Elizabeth Verdick

Illustrated by Marc Rosenthal

Paula Wiseman Books

Picture Book

40 pages 

ages 2 to 7

We’re Gus and Walt
We plow and we salt
We clear the snow so the
Cars can go!

A bitter blizzard. A snowbound town. When a car skids off the road, Small Walt and Gus might not have what it takes to save the day on their own. But who does? Mo the Tow to the rescue!

When we need a tow,
We call on Mo…
We can depend
On our new friend! 

Text filled with onomatopoeia and Walt’s affirming chants make this story about friendship and accepting help from others a real winner.

 MY TIDBITS

This is a book that will make small truck fans hearts' beat faster. 

Small Walt and his driver Gus are more than ready when the big snow storm hits. Plowing and salting the streets is fun, especially when it allows the other people in town to get around. That is, until a car veers off from a forest road and lands in a drift. Small Walt and Gus stand-by ready to help, but it's not a job made for them. Luckily, Mo the Tow is on his way, and the day might be saved after all.

Nothing's better than a more traditional picture book story when it comes to trucks and their heroic deeds. The tale allows the vehicles to come to life with a little personality and a lot of Varrrooomm. The text is simple enough for younger listeners to understand and makes a great read-aloud with sound effects pointed out. 

The illustrations are bright, clear and done with love. Every page shows the emotions in a way younger listeners will enjoy and understand. It's one to flip through all alone, and with a reader, a story to enjoy again and again.

The messages is there, but lets the trucks keep center stage. No one can do everything and help is a wonderful thing. Plus, it builds friendships and makes everyone's day better.  It's simply a lovely read.\

And here they are...

The Author...

Elizabeth Verdick  has written more than thirty books for toddlers to teens. She collaborated with Marc Rosenthal on Small Walt, which Kirkus Reviews called "reminiscent of Virginia Burton's classics" in a starred review, and its sequel, Small Walt and Mo the Tow. She is a graduate of the Hamline University MFA and lives in Woodbury, Minnesota. Learn more at elizabethverdick.com.

The Illustrator...

Marc Rosenthal is the New York Times bestselling illustrator of many books for children, including Small Walt by Elizabether Verdick; I Must Have Bobo, I'll Save You Bob, and Bobo the Sailor Man, all by Eileen Rosenthal; The Straight Line Wonder by Mem Fox; and Phooey, which he wrote. Marc's illustrations can be seen regularly in The New Yorker, Time, Forbes, Fortune, The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, and others. Visit him online at Marc-Rosenthal.com.