Week 2-Hot Rod Hamster

Hot Rod Hamster by Cynthia Lord and Illustrated by Derek Anderson
Suggested by Carter and Catherine
Started July 13
Finish About 15 minutes later

Recommendation: Totally Read...again and again and again...

Summary from Amazon
From Newbery Honor author Cynthia Lord and NYT bestselling illustrator Derek Anderson comes an INTERACTIVE read-aloud picture book for the very young-featuring an extremely lovable and adorable hams

Old car, new car, shiny painted blue car
Rust car, clean car, itty-bitty green car.
WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

Newbery Honor-author Cynthia Lord and New York Times bestselling illustrator Derek Anderson put the pedal to the metal in this endearing, rhythmic, rip-roaring race to the finish line where a hamster creates a sizzling hot rod with a little help from his new furry friends and YOU!

Ok, so I admit it, this week was a bit busy and I didn't get a book started so I could finish it in time to blog about it.  Stuff like that happens.  I spent the weekend in my hometown celebrating my sister and my soon to be published little nephew at her baby shower.  It was tons of fun and left no time for reading.  Those salads and cupcakes didn't make themselves you know.  Summers are full of activity at C&C's daycare and this year I offered to be a special guest story teller and for the 2-3 year old rooms I decided to read Hot Rod Hamster and then give them a fun coloring sheet as an art activity.  They were able to color Hot Rod and then draw his car.  I had so much fun, I would totally go back again.  

Now, as for the book.  It is awesome.  Really, what else can be said.  The story is fun, the illustrations are amazing, and it is about a race car driving hamster whose friends help him make the best race car ever.  Hot Rod might be the smallest of the racers, but I dare to say he has the biggest heart (figuratively, that is, he doesn't have a medical condition-at least that I am aware of).  

We own Hot Rod Hamster, Hot Rod Hamster Monster Truck Mania, Gladys Goes Out to Lunch, and Ten Pigs, and EPIC Bath Adventure (the last two are written and illustrated by Derek Anderson) and we love them all.  Out family was introduced to these books when we went to a story time presented by Derek, who is a native of out town-he even illustrated the new Bookmobile-which is AMAZING.  If you are a fan of bright colors and fun animals, then you should totally check out his work.  

Until next time...