The Dumped Truck

In a picture book about the unsung heroes tackling necessary work, Bernstrom (the Bear, Bee series) and Verdad (The Dream Catcher) introduce a chipper yellow dump truck who garners relentless criticism. Both hauler and handyman, Dump keeps Toyville running, but the other playthings complain: “Dump Truck wasn’t neat./ In fact, he was dirty/ and smelled like wet feet.” Moreover, the truck’s cleanup efforts sometimes cause minor collateral damage, like getting dust on Giggly, a tattooed teddy bear in a tutu who leads the opposition. To the toys, Dump is chaotic, messy, and—most tellingly—“strange,” and they write up new rules that bar him from working. After Toyville falls apart, though, Dump decides he’s done following the guidelines and returns to his job. Bold acrylic, paper, and digital collage illustrations offer a crafts-like energy that reinforces the story’s straightforward message about valuing those who take on essential work—and individual process, too. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Brenda Bowen, Book Group. Illustrator’s agent: Adriana Dominguez, Aevitas Creative Management. (May)