Book picks similar to
Elbow Grease vs. Motozilla by John Cena


picture-books
picture-book
childrens
teamwork

Monster Trucks


Joy Keller - 2017
    With a gentle bedtime ending, this not-too-scary story is perfect for young monster and truck lovers.

Edward Gets Messy


Rita Meade - 2016
    He never, ever eats food that spills or splatters. And he never, ever, EVER uses markers or glue sticks or paint. They are just too messy. But what happens when—GLOOP!—a big tub of paint falls on Edward’s perfectly neat little head? Well, it might just turn out that getting messy has its upsides, too. After all, even particular pigs can clean up afterward.

The Little Dump Truck


Margery Cuyler - 2009
    It's hard work, but the little dump truck is ready for action.Preschool children will revel in the day-to-day activities of this mighty dump truck. The lyrical text, bright pictures, and sturdy pages are just right for budding truck enthusiasts.

Rescue Squad No. 9


Mike Austin - 2016
    9, Rescue Squad No. 9 must spring into action when a young sailor and her dog are stranded during a storm!   Follow the crew as they scramble aboard their helicopter and speedboat, racing to the rescue through the waves and winds. The high action is communicated through minimal sound words and bold, graphic art reminiscent of that in Donald Crews’s transportation books.

My Truck Is Stuck!


Kevin Lewis - 2002
    Rotten luck. Can't go! My truck is stuck. Tug and tow. Two engines roar. But the truck won't go. Not one inch more. Does anyone know how to make my stuck truck go? In this lyrical read-aloud, young drivers are introduced to the ins and outs of hauling, beeping, and repairing -- get ready for a fun ride!

Thanks for Nothing (A Little Bruce Book)


Ryan T. Higgins - 2021
    Higgins, #1 New York Times best-selling author and illustrator, celebrates the season of thanks in this Little Bruce Book. It’s autumn in Soggy Hollow, and the mice have a lot to be thankful for. But Bruce the bear is not so thankful for all the thanking.This bite-sized Little Bruce Book is perfect for fans of the Mother Bruce board books.

How to Train a Train


Jason Carter Eaton - 2013
    But what if somebody’s taste in pets runs to the more mechanical kind? What about those who like cogs and gears more than feathers and fur? People who prefer the call of a train whistle to the squeal of a guinea pig? Or maybe dream of a smudge of soot on their cheek, not slobber? In this spectacularly illustrated picture book, kids who love locomotives (and what kid doesn’t?) will discover where trains live, what they like to eat, and the best train tricks around—everything it takes to lay the tracks for a long and happy friendship. All aboard!

What Kind of Car Does a T. Rex Drive?


Mark Lee - 2019
    After all, he's never sold a car to a dinosaur before. Luckily, Ava and Mickey--two kids with a lot of dino knowledge--are there to help pair each customer with their perfect vehicle. But here comes the T. Rex, and he wants to buy a car too! And he's surprisingly hard to please.... So what kind of car does a T. Rex drive? A microcar? A convertible? A minivan? You'll just have to read to find out!

My Big Rig


Jonathan London - 2007
    Along the way, he uses his two-way radio and parks at a truck stop. Finally, he reaches the coast, where he unloads his cargo. His imagination would keep growing…but it’s time for dinner!

Curious George Takes a Train


Margret Rey - 2002
    Curious George is excited for a train trip with the man with the yellow hat, but when he tries to help out the station master, he gets himself into trouble. All is forgiven, though, when George helps a new friend in need and gets to ride up front with the conductor. Bonus connect-the-dots, fun facts, and telling time activities inside.

Monkey Truck


Michael Slack - 2011
    He's on the lookout for all sorts of jungle bungles -- there are chameleons to rescue before they are squashed, snakes to untangle, and hippos to pull free. And look out for that TSUNAMI! This playful picture book, with its chant-along language and plucky pictures, is perfect for little ones who like trucks and animals (probably the two most popular toddler topics). The paper-over-board format complete with heavy interior stock makes it an excellent choice for preschoolers.

Smash! Crash!


Jon Scieszka - 2008
    It's a world where all the characters are trucks, all the stories are action driven, and boys and girls can imagine themselves in all their crazy, loud, funny, creative, excited, full-throttle glory! It's a world where we work at play, and we play at work...and no one's afraid to get dirty or be LOUD! And it all kicks off with Smash! Crash! Best friends Jack and Dan are spending their day doing what they do best - smashing and crashing! All the while a strange shadow is following them around every corner...Who is this new addition to Trucktown? What does she want? Rhythmic, rollicking text will get kids' motors running and horns honking with each refrain! This is a book that begs to be read again and again!

Pirasaurs!


Josh Funk - 2016
    We're Pirasaurs! We're Pirasaurs!We rule the open seas!We'll cannon-blast you to the past! We do just what we please!Meet the Pirasaurs, a ragtag team of seasoned pirate dinosaurs looking for adventure and treasure! There's fearsome Captain Rex, golden-toothed Velocimate, one-eyed Bronto Beard, and more fearsome, buccaneering beasts....as well as one new recruit who may be small, but who's eager to prove he can learn the ropes and find his place on the team.But when a trap is set upon the Pirasaurs while looking for buried treasure, it's up to the littlest recruit to show the team that there's more to a Pirasaur than meets the eye patch!

Machines Go to Work


William Low - 2009
    Six interactive gatefolds extend the original pictures to three pages, revealing something new about each situation. The final double gatefold opens into a very long train and shows all the machines at work!The last spread provides additional information about each machine for young readers to pore over again and again.William Low's classically trained artist's eye adds a new layer to this genre--both parents and children will appreciate the beautiful illustrations, the attention to detail, and the clever situational twists revealed by lifting the flaps.

I'm Brave!


Kate McMullan - 2014
    From the popular creators of I’m Bad!, I Stink!, and I’m Dirty! comes the perfect new addition to this hilarious read-aloud series: the fire truck.He’s a big red ENGINEWith a siren,A horn,A tank full of water,And a whole lotta HOSE!He’s a good-lookin’ fire truck,And he’s BRAVE, too.When the alarm soundsEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOHe’s gotta drive throughSMOKE and HEATStraight to a blazing FIRE! HONK! HONK!