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Gray, Libba Moore. The Little Black Truck. Aladdin Paperbacks. New York, New York. 1998. ISBN 0-689-82135-2  Illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles

Summary: A hard-working little black truck is give a new life after it breaks down and is repaired.

Readability Level: Middle of year 4th grade (primary read aloud)

Review: Libba Moore Gray tells the story of the life of a little black truck. The language in this text is lovely. The words ebb and flow, weaving the reader through time and the seasons. In the end the little black truck gets a new life and hums along into the future. This story is circular in nature, and written with great attention to the language.

Teaching Possibilities: This book is filled with onomatopoeia. All of the seasons are represented throughout the story. This book is excellent for teaching sentence fluency and word choice. The story is set in the country and would complement a unit on farms.

Visit the Author's Website: Not Available

 Visit the Illustrator's Website: Elizabeth Sayles