In sing-song cumulative rhyme, Ernst tells the tale of the family van. Dad had it cleaned—all shiny and bright. Then he loaded up with three kids and along the way stopped at a fast food drive-in. If you have ever had kids and fast food together in any vehicle you know that spills are bound to occur. In this case, there is food, ketchup and horsing around which brings even greater mess. What does seem a tad unrealistic is Dad's complete oblivion to what is going on inside the van until they arrive at their destination. The ending takes a nice twist as the kids spend the next day cleaning the family van to once again make it all shiny and bright. Kids will enjoy the humor and the repetition. 2005, Simon & Schuster, Ages 3 to 7.
About the Author, Lisa Campbell Ernst
Lisa Campbell Ernst has written and illustrated many popular children's books, including The Turn-Around, Upside-Down Alphabet Book; Hannah Mae O'Hannigan's Wild West Show; Goldilocks Returns, her own version of "Little Red Riding Hood"; and Stella Louella's Runaway Book. She lives in Kansas City, Missouri, with her husband, Lee, and their two daughters, Elizabeth and Allison.
