Margery Cuyler and Bob Kolar (the team behind The Little Dump Truck) will boost the confidence of first-time bus riders thanks to this perky book featuring a four-wheeled cheerful yellow bus.
Let's begin with introductions: "I'm a little school bus,/ my driver's name is Bob./ Rumbling, shifting, clunking,/ we like to do our job." The bus and Bob rise at five ("Driver Bob drinks coffee,/ then we start to drive"). Kolar portrays the bus with eyes at half mast as Bob boards with his java, then the two get lively as they make their way through town. Other early risers walk dogs and drive trucks. Author and artist demonstrate safety with the flashing red lights and stop sign that extends while "picking up my children/ as they stand in line." The little school bus also lowers a ramp for a wheelchair, to "[give] Kate a ride,/ letting down my platform,/ so she can wheel inside." The children "sit and laugh and talk" on the bus, then safely disembark (children who like to keep track will find all eight of the passengers who boarded) when they reach "Friends School."
Other safety rules apply: "No hands out the windows," says Driver Bob to his young riders; he gets a tune-up when it's time, and on a day of ice and snow, the little school bus and Driver Bob stay home. It's as if the little yellow bus is saying, Nothing to fear here! --Jennifer M. Brown, children's editor, Shelf Awareness