Racing Cars & Driving Trucks on the #Road2Reading (ages 4-7)

My kindergarten & first grade nephews love-love-love racing cars, playing with Hot Wheels and driving trucks. Their play is full of imagination and fun. I want to bring these passions into their reading, so I'm constantly on the hunt for great books about things that go fast!

Their favorite new book is the really big book: DK's The Big Book of Things That Go. This is full of pictures and information--but this works as a read-aloud for my nephews. What books might encourage them on the road to reading?

Here's a collection of books just right for beginning readers. They are levels C through F, which are typical levels for kindergarten through first grade. All are available in paperback, perfect for home or classroom libraries.

These books are a mix of fiction and nonfiction; some have stories, while others talk about features of different cars and trucks. If you like one, check for others in the same series (listed next to the title).

• Big Rigs (Mighty Machines), by Kay Manolis
• Bulldozers (Big Machines), by Katie Kawa
• Car Goes Far (I Like to Read), by Michael Garland
• The Car Race (Let's Race), by Rachel Bach
• Indy Cars (Seedlings), by Kate Riggs
• Race Day (National Geographic Readers), by Gail Tuchman
• Snow Trouble (Truck Buddies), by Melinda Melton Crow 
• Tractors (Mighty Machines), by Mary Lindeen
• Test Drive (Robot & Rico), by Anastasia Suen

Here are three samples of what these books look like on the inside. Notice the large print, simple sentences and pictures that help readers figure out key words.

interior of Indy Cars (Seedlings)

interior of Race Day (National Geographic)

interior of Test Drive (Robot & Rico)

Do you want to find more books to support your kids on the road to reading? Check out the great series of blog posts by my friends Alyson (at KidLit Frenzy) and Michelle (at Mrs. Knott's Book Nook).

The review copies came from my personal library. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books. Thank you for your support.

©2017 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books