Dumpy the Dump Truck

Ms Andrews has done a great job in this and all her Dumpy Books. My grandsons love the story of Dumpy and everytime I say, "boys another Dumpy book is here", they smile from ear to ear and want me to read it immediately. Great books for PreSchoolers Ms Andrews, you know children very well...Thanks

Thank you Ms Andrews for such a great little series. My 2 grandsons love Dumpy and are overjoyed when a new Dumpy book comes out. Ms Andrews, you sure know children. Thank you for the gift you have given my two grandsons.

Dumpy and its sequels tell the story of a seemingly abandoned truck that is discovered, refurbished, and given a new life. It is such a delightful parable about objects discarded in haste and a metaphor for what people may do to each other. The story is the begining of a collaboration between actress/singer Julie Andrews Edwards and daughter Emma Kate Walton Hamilton. Emma Kate's father, Tony Walton, is the ilustrator. I trust this will be the beginning of a long collaborative effort.

As the story begins, everyone is hard at work on Merryhill Farm...Bee-Bee the Backhoe, Trundle the Tractor. Everyone, that is except Dumpy. He's old, rusty and broken and stuck in the tall grass behind the barn. There are birds and mice living in the stuffing of his leather seats and it looks like his work days at Merryhill Farm are over. Farmer Barnes is planning on having him towed away to make room for a new and bigger barn and this makes his son, Charlie sad. "It's so sad to get rid of something you love just to make room for something new." His grandfather, Pop-Up agrees and they hatch a plan to save Dumpy. First they pull him out of the tall weeds and clean him up. They scrub and polish, mend and paint, get him new tires and then go to work on the engine. And in no time, Dumpy's better than ever, looking good and back to work, helping to raise the new barn..... Julie Andrews and her daughter, Emma Hamilton have written a charming, endearing story about love, teamwork and purpose that will delight youngsters aged 3-7. Their gentle text, full of imagery and sound effects, is complimented by Tony Walton's colorful and expressive artwork and together, they have authored a story with the subtle message that big and new isn't always better. Dumpy the Dump Truck is the first in what should be a wonderful new series, that you little ones are sure to enjoy.

This is a sweet children's story. It's charming, beautifullyillustrated, and seems destined for classic status; the fact that it is first in a series makes it even more appealing.