SunLive Competition

My first car was red by Peter Schossow, Gecko Press, RRP $19.99

An entertaining tale of a child’s first car given to him by his grandfather. It’s a rusty old car, but exactly the right size for the boy.

“Diesel or gas?” I asked Grandpa.

“Sweat,” he said.

Grandpa and the boy set to work in the workshop to restore the old pedal car. It’s a shared labour of love. They hammer, sand, drill holes, tighten nuts, patch and paint. The boy’s preschool brother watches progress with interest. The finished car is a beautiful sight.

After driving lessons, the boy plans the perfect route for his first outing, however, his little brother wants to be a passenger. Up to this point, the younger boy has been a silent observer. Now he has definite ideas on where to drive and their journey turns into an hilarious adventure. They cause mayhem and go from one dire situation to another.

Nostalgic illustrations in muted colours suggest a previous era. The characters dress in old-fashioned overalls, helmets and driving goggles. Yet modern-day road signs sit alongside the text and new tyres are found on the internet. The characters appear several times on each page, which gives an impression of continuous movement.

There’s a lovely relationship between the older boy and his small brother. A book to treasure and enjoy reading many times.

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Competition Results

Christine London

Laurie Sanders