The blue pickup

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The blue pickup

Title :

The blue pickup / written by Natasha Tripplett ; illustrated by Monica Mikai.

Title:

The blue pickup

Author:

Tripplett, Natasha

Format:

Books

Physical Description:

1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 27 cm

Edition:

First edition.

ISBN:

9780063159877

Production / Publication Information:

New York, NY : HarperCollins Children's Books, [2024]

Summary:

"Ju-Girl’s favorite days are the ones spent with Granddad in his garage, fixing cars and hearing stories about his old blue pickup. Granddad used to drive the blue pickup all over the island, bringing happiness to many. And now it just sits in the driveway. One day, Ju-Girl asks Granddad if he’d ever fix it, and he’s unsure at first. But the pair soon finds out just what it takes to restore the memory of the blue pickup and to create new stories along the way."--Amazon.

Language:

English

Added Author:

Mikai, Monica

Genre:

Picture books.

Subject Term:

Grandfathers -- Juvenile fiction.

Grandparent and child -- Juvenile fiction.

Pickup trucks -- Juvenile fiction.

Repairing -- Juvenile fiction.

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Material Type	Library	Call Number	Item Barcode	Location
Book	Searching... Andover - Memorial Hall Library Children's Room	JE GO TRI	31330009477971	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Billerica Public Library	E/TRI	33934004711801	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Carlisle - Gleason Public Library	JJ TRIPPLETT	32117002208134	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Groton Public Library	JJ TRI	37003702302556	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Hamilton-Wenham Public Library	JJ TRI	30470002174901	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Haverhill Public Library	J/PIC/GO	31479007685018	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Ipswich Public Library	JE TRIPPLETT	32122003078734	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Lawrence Public Library	E FAMILY TRI	31549005092027	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Middleton - Flint Public Library	JJ TRI	32126001951883	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Newburyport Public Library	J TR / PICTURE	32128004256302	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... North Andover - Stevens Memorial Library	JP PEOPLE FAMILY TRI	31478003833630	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... North Reading - Flint Memorial Library	JJ TRI	31550002570601	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Rockport Public Library	J PS TRIPPLETT	32129002697307	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Rowley Public Library	E TRI	32130001095048	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Tewksbury Public Library	JJ TRI	32132003447441	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Westford - J.V. Fletcher Library	E TRIPPLETT	31990005199646	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

A charming story about a young girl who loves fixing automobiles with her grandfather on the warm grounds of Jamaica, Natasha Tripplett's debut picture book is a perfect pick for fans of My Papi Has a Motorcycle and The Old Truck.

Ju-Girl's favorite days are the ones spent with Granddad in his garage, fixing cars and hearing stories about his old blue pickup.

Granddad used to drive the blue pickup all over the island, bringing happiness to many. And now it just sits in the driveway.

One day, Ju-Girl asks Granddad if he'd ever fix it, and he's unsure at first. But the pair soon finds out just what it takes to restore the memory of the blue pickup and to create new stories along the way.

This heartwarming layered tale, brought to life with lush illustrations by Monica Mikai (Thank a Farmer), reminds us about the joy of repairing things with our hands and preserving stories with our hearts.

Reviews (3)

Publisher's Weekly Review

In a Jamaica-cued coastal setting, a child happily describes assisting her grandfather in his garage: "I help him fix radiators, switch out batteries, and even change a car's oil. But my favorite thing to do is organize the socket wrench set." As the two take a break to drink cold Ting in the bed of Granddad's old broken-down pickup, he regales the narrating protagonist, whom he affectionately calls Ju-Girl, of his adventures making deliveries in the truck--memories that appear illustrated alongside the duo. After the child suggests that Granddad fix up the truck, and he does, the two take a picturesque drive to a high street and back home. And when the truck gives a shudder en route, Ju-Girl comes to the rescue with a socket wrench that Granddad had engraved just for her ("I fit the socket onto the bolt and tighten it. I tighten the other one just in case"). Boldly colorful art by Mikai (Thank a Farmer) captures Caribbean life in backgrounds that overflow with abundant greenery. Tripplett's debut is an affectionate intergenerational story about "the importance of taking care of old and forgotten things" as well as learning "just the right tools" to move forward. An author's note follows. Ages 4--8. Author's agent: Caryn Wiseman, Andrea Brown Literary. Illustrator's agent: Christy Ewers, CAT Agency. (Feb.)

Kirkus Review

A little girl teaches her mechanic grandfather "the importance of taking care of old and forgotten things." In the garage, Ju-Girl works hard to help Granddad fix cars for their Jamaican community. The two take a break to sip Ting on the bed of Granddad's pickup truck. As Granddad tells stories of his younger self, Ju-Girl learns how Blue Pickup connects her to the history of her community--Granddad drove Blue Pickup to deliver everything from newspapers to Jamaican calico cloth. But Ting time and daydreams must come to an end, because there's work to be done and cars to be fixed. Still, Ju-Girl believes Blue Pickup can be restored to its former glory, perhaps with just an oil swap, new brakes, and a new battery--all of which she's learned to recognize from dutifully assisting her granddad. Convinced, Granddad does all the fixes short of checking the oil, saving that for the excited little girl, who has the savvy of a veteran mechanic. As the two cruise around town, taking in the history and present of their vibrant neighborhood and picking up a socket set specifically for Ju-Girl, readers are left with the sense that all can be fixed with the right tools…and taking time out for Ting. Lively, richly saturated illustrations bring to life Ju-Girl's beloved community, while the simple yet vivid text, filled with sensory descriptions, captures a child's perspective perfectly. A love letter to hard work and shared legacy. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Booklist Review

Ju-Girl loves to help her grandfather in his work repairing cars, and this skilled, upbeat seven-year-old knows her way around tools. As they share a fizzy drink while perched on the tailgate of a broken-down truck, Granddad reminisces about the days when he used this beloved blue pickup to make deliveries all over their island of Jamaica. One day, she arrives to find the blue pickup repaired, almost ready to go; having heeded her hopeful encouragement, Granddad now gives Ju-Girl the last job of checking the oil. The engine purring once again, they take a joyful spin--sharing more island stories of cherished people and places and ending with a poignant gift and a promise. The island setting glows with Mikai's palette of vibrant pastels; in it lush greenery blooms on gently sloping hills, and softly textured backgrounds evoke the warmth of sun and air. In Tripplett's charming debut picture book, drawn from her own cultural background, this warm intergenerational friendship shows that a purposeful partnership can revitalize treasured memories as well as machines.