Red Wagon - by Renata Liwska (Board Book)

About the Book

All Lucy wants to do is play with her brand-new, bright-red wagon. But Lucy must go to the market and buy vegetables for dinner. Before long, Lucy's ordinary trip becomes a high-seas adventure, a ride through outer space, and a day at the circus. Full color.

Book Synopsis

A simple story about complex imaginations, in board book!

Lucy has a new red wagon, and all she wants to do is play! But when her mother sends her--and her wagon--off to do some chores, Lucy knows there's more in store. Before long, her friends join in, and an ordinary trip to the market becomes a high-seas adventure, a ride through outer space, a day at the circus, and so much more. As long as she has her red wagon and her friends by her side, nothing can get in the way of Lucy's fun.

Renata Liwska's vibrant art takes center stage in this imaginative book for the youngest of readers, just the way it did in her award-winning, New York Times bestselling titles The Quiet Book and The Loud Book!, both written by Deborah Underwood.

Review Quotes

"This title owes its delight to the well-balanced, deadpan disparity between the spare, straightforward text and the increasingly wild scenarios depicted in the digitally colored pencil illustrations. According to the words, the animals climb a hill, weather some rain, load up at the market, regroup after hitting a rock, and return home. The pictures, however, show a different story: along the way, the red wagon transforms from pirate ship to covered wagon to circus caravan to train to rocket ship to truck in detailed scenes children will want to revisit. Preschoolers will recognize the reality-blurring borders of their own made-up worlds; children on the cusp of independent reading will enjoy following the simple, bold-type sentences; and both audiences will hope for future adventures from Lucy and her friends. --Booklist, starred review

"Liwska renders the illustrations in soft-hued pencil and digital coloring, similar in style to those she created for Deborah Underwood's The Quiet Book. Adding to the quality of this gentle yet adventurous tale is the way the illustrations provide an imaginative alternative visual narrative that enhances the straightforward text. An enjoyable story to read with creative little critters just like Lucy." --Horn Book Reviews

About the Author

Renata Liwska grew up in Warsaw, Poland and now lives in Calgary, Canada. She is the illustrator of The Quiet Book and The Loud Book!, both written by Deborah Underwood, and both New York Times bestsellers. For The Quiet Book, Renata Liwska was awared the 20110 Society of Illustrators Gold Medal and was named a 2010 Governer General's Award finalist.