Kiddo’s Corner Reviews: Race Around the World by Susan Amerikaner
Kiddo’s Corner Reviews is my new feature here at The Overstuffed Bookcase, where my 7-year-old son reviews children’s books! Go here to find out more.
Race Around the World (Cars 2)
Written by: Susan Amerikaner
Illustrated by: the Disney Storybook Artists
Published by: Random House
Published: 2011
Where we got it: Purchased
All the world’s a racetrack as superstar Lightning McQueen zooms back into action, with his best friend Mater in tow, to take on the globe’s fastest and finest in Disney/Pixar Cars 2. Boys ages 4 to 6 will love this Step 1 reader based on the new hit film. (Cover and synopsis from Goodreads.)
First Thoughts…
Kiddo: “This is easy to read.” He reads the book to me.
Me: “So what is this book about?”
Kiddo: “Um, it’s about Lightning racing a car from Italy. And who will win.” (He had just read the little synopsis on the back of the book and basically repeated it to me, lol.)
A Bit More Detail…
Me: “So what is this book about?”
Kiddo: “Um, it’s about Lightning racing a car from Italy. And who will win.” (He had just read the little synopsis on the back of the book and basically repeated it to me, lol.)
A Bit More Detail…
Me: “What’s your favorite part?”
Kiddo: “When Lightning wins.”
Me: “Does he win? I mean, does he win the whole thing?”
Kiddo: “Well, you don’t know who wins the whole thing, but he wins this part–” (he flips through pages and points at a page) “–He wins this one. The race in Italy.”
Me: “Oh, yeah. What’s your least favorite part?”
Kiddo: “Um, when the car from Italy wins.”
Me: “So do you like the ending? Like how it ends and you don’t know who is going to win the final race?”
Kiddo: “Yeah, because you get to guess what happens next, and I like to guess what happens next in stories.” (Noted: the Kiddo likes cliffhangers.)
Final Thoughts…
Me: “So this book was pretty easy for you to read, huh?”
Kiddo: “Yeah. It’s a Level 1 and that’s for Kindergarten and Pre-School. 3 is really my level.”
Me: “Do you like the artwork?”
Kiddo: “Yes.”
Me: “Anything else you want to say about this book?”
Kiddo: “The stars. We need to do the stars.”
Me: “Right. So how many stars would you give it?”
Kiddo: “Um, if it’s 1-1,000, I’d give it 200.”
Me: “Really? I thought you liked it a lot.”
Kiddo: “I do. No, not 200. 400.”
Me: “So is that good?”
Kiddo: “Yeah. I really like it a lot. Because I really like cars. and Lightning McQueen is fast. And fast is kinda my thing. I like racing, too. But Lightning McQueen was born for racing, actually. That’s what he always says. It was fun doing this Kiddo’s Corner Review, Mom!”
Me: “Yes, it was. It’s always fun to do reviews with you!”
Kiddo: “When Lightning wins.”
Me: “Does he win? I mean, does he win the whole thing?”
Kiddo: “Well, you don’t know who wins the whole thing, but he wins this part–” (he flips through pages and points at a page) “–He wins this one. The race in Italy.”
Me: “Oh, yeah. What’s your least favorite part?”
Kiddo: “Um, when the car from Italy wins.”
Me: “So do you like the ending? Like how it ends and you don’t know who is going to win the final race?”
Kiddo: “Yeah, because you get to guess what happens next, and I like to guess what happens next in stories.” (Noted: the Kiddo likes cliffhangers.)
Final Thoughts…
Me: “So this book was pretty easy for you to read, huh?”
Kiddo: “Yeah. It’s a Level 1 and that’s for Kindergarten and Pre-School. 3 is really my level.”
Me: “Do you like the artwork?”
Kiddo: “Yes.”
Me: “Anything else you want to say about this book?”
Kiddo: “The stars. We need to do the stars.”
Me: “Right. So how many stars would you give it?”
Kiddo: “Um, if it’s 1-1,000, I’d give it 200.”
Me: “Really? I thought you liked it a lot.”
Kiddo: “I do. No, not 200. 400.”
Me: “So is that good?”
Kiddo: “Yeah. I really like it a lot. Because I really like cars. and Lightning McQueen is fast. And fast is kinda my thing. I like racing, too. But Lightning McQueen was born for racing, actually. That’s what he always says. It was fun doing this Kiddo’s Corner Review, Mom!”
Me: “Yes, it was. It’s always fun to do reviews with you!”
The Verdict…
The Kiddo has always loved cars–“car” was his first word after “Dada” and “Mama”–and he has also always really loved the Disney Pixar Cars movies. So I think this is a great VERY early reader for any kid who loves cars (not just boys like the synopsis says). Like we mentioned, it’s a Level 1 on the Step Into Reading early reader scale, which means it’s a really easy read for kids who are past that level. But my kiddo still loves it, simply because he loves cars. He gave it 400 stars, but I’m going to give it:
3 stars from the two of us. It’s good for kids who are just starting to learn to read, and who love cars, but it’s basically just the movie Cars 2 made into an early reader book.
Andrea
Disclaimer: We purchased this book ourselves. We were in no way compensated for this review.
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