Little Red written and illustrated by Will Hillenbrand is a picture book full of kindness. Little Red is a little red pick-up truck driven by a super- helpful gal named Katie. Readers 3-5 years of age will love the way Little Red and Katie help a variety of vehicles caught in a snowy evening when something important breaks down on each.
Purple Delivery Van’s engine won’t start, Blue Calliope Car has a broken headlight, Green Fire Truck is stuck, Yellow Popcorn Wagon has a flat tire, Orange Utility Truck is out of gas, Shiny Silver Sleigh has a broken hitch! This book offers a great opportunity to review colors with children as well as showing them many opportunities to deliver kindness.
Each time a vehicle calls for their help, Katie and Little Red go to where they are needed and solve the problem. Then Little Red says, “See ya later!” Followed by a “Honk, Honk! Beep, Beep!”
However, Little Red and Katie find they need a little help completing their own work for the day, namely, putting up a huge Christmas Tree for the city----and guess what? Everyone helps!
A surprise double fold picture of the tree going up with all helping is a visual treat. Young readers will love the delightful final spread full of goodwill, happiness, and joy.
Little Red, written and illustrated by Will Hillenbrand is a playful, perfect, prize of a picture book for children 3-5 years of age (Christy Ottaviano Books/ Little, Brown and Company) 2023.
The Children’s Bookshelf is a production of WCMU. Links to the podcast and the activity questions can be found at Children’s Bookshelf dot org.
Activity Questions for Little Red
Young readers 3-5 years of age: Look through this book and find the vehicles that are the following colors: red, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange and silver. Now, look through your house and find each of these colors.
Have you ever been with your parents when they needed to call for help on the road? Think about it. Then, draw a picture of the truck or car that came to help. Also, what cars and trucks on the road have you seen helping others?
Just for fun: make a sound for each of the vehicles in this story and then move about the house as if you are that car or truck. Have fun!
