The Happy Man and His Dump Truck

For years I remembered this book. My mother would read it to me as a child. I could never find it in any store until I thought to check it out here. Just seeing the cover took me back for a moment. I am now 23 years old, and will be buying to for my 2 year old son. It's a great story to read and cherish for years.

I read this book to my 4 children countless times and they loved it. When we were clearing out our book shelves, I asked which one wanted the copy and the two oldest fought over it. For several years I tried to locate a second copy and in 1999 did so, wrapped it as a Christmas gift and gave it to my by then 20 year old. She was the happiest little/big girl!! At 23 she still keeps it on her coffee table as a college senior. Now all four kids have their own copy and I am buying another for a special friend who is having her first child. By far the family favorite book.

Deja vu. When I was a little kid in the 1950's my mother read this same book to me and I still remember it clearly, (It has been republished). Now, my youngest has enjoyed it as much as I did those many long years ago. This book has great illustrations and is easy to follow for any young child. My little boy liked it so much he has asked me to read it over and over to him.

That's what my two-year olds call out to have read aloud to them. The premise is very different from many other children's books; the plot, such as it is, consists of a rough shaven driver of a dilapidated truck taking farm animals for a ride. My kids recognize the animals and can imitate the sound each animal makes thanking the driver. Charming illustrations, too. I thank Golden Books for bringing back this series of classics from my youth in time for my boys to enjoy.

This is one of the few books that I have found in which a toddler can follow along by virtue of enjoying and being captivated by the pictures. Most of my daughter's toddler books are actually strings of pictures.