In Papa’s Little Truck, the illustrations are equally if not more impressive than the words themselves. Mori juxtaposes Papa’s tiny pickup truck with creatively enlarged animations of the world around it - a peek into how his daughter, our narrator, imagines their world. The welcoming sun takes the form of a giant yellow giraffe, a bump in the road morphs into a seagull flying the truck further into this imaginative world. This juxtaposition between the truck and the outside world gives the story a Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs feel, as if the little girl can conquer anything when in Papa’s little truck.

More than just an interesting canvas, Papa’s Little Truck tells the touching story of a daughter’s relationship with her father. Their journey in the truck becomes a metaphor for the trials and tribulations that she’ll eventually have to face on her own - from breaking down in scary places to traveling through dark tunnels. From their time spent in the truck, however, this girl will always have her father’s guiding presence by her side.

Publication Date: April 2022 by Reycraft Books, New York, ISBN: 1478875526. Ages 5-8.