cover image 1-2-3 Va-Va-Vroom!

1-2-3 Va-Va-Vroom!

Sarah Lynn, illus. by Daniel Griffo. Amazon’s Children’s Publishing, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-7614-6162-3

Counting takes a back seat, so to speak, to the thrills of car racing in Lynn’s (Tip-Tap Pop) second picture book. “Let’s race” shouts one of three children, first seen playing with toy cars on a playroom rug; the action shifts to a racetrack, with each child piloting his or her own vehicle, complete with animal-themed helmets and, in one case, a teddy bear copilot. The only numbers are those of the laps around the track: “Lap Three!/ Clutch the wheel,/ knuckles white./ Swerve to right! Missing that big smash!” Griffo’s bright illustrations pop, blending asphalt action with whimsical details. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)