Not Just the Driver!
by Sara Holly Ackerman; illus. by Robert Neubecker
Preschool, Primary    Beach Lane/Simon    32 pp.
4/24    9781665936378    $18.99
e-book ed.  9781665936385    $10.99

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?”

Pubissue-From the March/April 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.