NASCAR ABCs

Authors are Paul DuBois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender

Illustrated by Aaron Zenz

R is for ROLL CAGE, ROOKIE, and RACE.

S is for SHOOTOUT-a two-car chase.

T is for TURN IN-now you're in the zone.

Accelerate, TAKE A LOOK-slingshot home.

Vroom, vroom, vroom! The NASCAR racecars are revving up their engines to get in the NASCAR alphabet groove. Jump in your racecar and fasten your seat belt, because the NASCAR race is about to begin! From AIR WRENCH to BANKING to CREW, you are going to be set and on your mark to move! Practice your ABCs at top speed while learning all about NASCAR. Watch out! The rookie car with the yellow stripe is about to pass you. Zoom in with a new record time for a NASCAR ABCs victory!

About the authors...

Paul DuBois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender's books include My Taxi Ride, My Subway Ride, Children's Songbag, and Putting on a Play. Paul has also coauthored four books with musician Pete Seeger: Abiyoyo Returns, Pete Seeger's Storytelling Book, Some Friends to Feed, and Deaf Musicians, winner of the ALA's 2007 Schneider Family Book Award. Jennifer is a veteran elementary school teacher and curriculum writer. They live in Massachusetts with their daughter and their old car, Lickety Split.

About the illustrator...

Aaron Zenz shifts gears between fine art, graphic design, multimedia design, toy design, and illustration. He and his groovy wife, Amity, have parked themselves in West Michigan where they never tire of keeping track of a whole truckload of kids. Zenz recently rolled out his first picture book, The Hiccupotamus, which he authored as well. It's a gas.

From air wrench to banking to crew, young NASCAR fans can discover the ins and outs of stock-car racing with this revved up new book from the award-winning writing team of Paul DuBois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender. Race through the alphabet with car terminology, race-day lingo, and exciting illustrations as fast as these brave drivers race around the track! It's the perfect way to introduce young readers to the thrill of the race-and of reading.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2- Here is the perfect alphabet book for racing fans who want to share their interest with young children. In rhyming verse that has introductory information, one or more terms are attached to each letter of the alphabet. Although a few choices are stretches, most accurately use real racing terms. "X is for X-factor-at each and every curve./Expect the unexpected and don't lose your nerve." Zenz's illustrations, in a blocky, cartoon style, convey the color and speed of the sport. Pictures of the cars feature numbers, but none of the sponsors' decals, so that readers are not exposed to advertising. Although white men dominate the characters pictured, a woman fan and a minority pit crew member appear. This book, attractively packaged with an appealing cover and end pages featuring racing flags, is sure to be popular where there is interest in stock-car racing.-Jeffrey A. French, formerly at Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library, Willowick, OH

Paul DuBois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender are a husband-and-wife team living in Brooklyn, New York. Paul has coauthored three books with musician Pete Seeger: Pete Seeger's Storytelling Book, Abiyoyo Returns, and Some Friends to Feed: The Story of Stone Soup. Jennifer is an early childhood educator and curriculum developer. Paul and Jennifer's favorite subway line is the Q train.

Paul DuBois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender are a husband-and-wife team living in Brooklyn, New York. Paul has coauthored three books with musician Pete Seeger: Pete Seeger's Storytelling Book, Abiyoyo Returns, and Some Friends to Feed: The Story of Stone Soup. Jennifer is an early childhood educator and curriculum developer. Paul and Jennifer's favorite subway line is the Q train.

Aaron Zenz lives in Spring Lake, Michigan. He illustrated NASCAR ABCs (Gibbs Smith) and the "I Can Read" Howie series, and wrote and illustrated The Hiccupotamus.