A little boy reveres his truck-driving dad. A little boy tells the story of what his dad does during his long day of driving a truck. Startlingly vivid graphic images of a big rig rendered in vibrant colors and compelling compositions make life on the road seem exotic and beautiful even as the story brings the father and son together at the end of the day.
Reviews
"Clement makes a noteworthy picture book debut with this day-in-the-life story of a trucker, as told through the eyes and succinct words of his young son. ...Clement’s visual storytelling that sets this book apart, and gives many of the images all the power of a six-cylinder, 16.1-liter diesel engine. ... Unusual and often cinematic perspectives—a thigh-high view of Daddy gripping the gear shift, a bumper’s-eye view of a traffic jam—plunge readers into the action and give the compositions a red-blooded energy."
—Publishers Weekly
"Striking graphics... The images and sans-serif typeface are reminiscent of Donald Crews in their boldness and simplicity, perspective and angle emphasizing the immensity of the truck and the heroism of its working-class driver. Indeed, in its strong, steady lines and depiction of a deeply pastoral Midwest, this offering could well be seen as the Great American Truck Book."
—Kirkus Reviews
"[T]he minimal text expresses the warm, loving sentiment of a father and child playing at the end of the day... The text is printed in a large, clear font, with simple declarative sentences that will encourage youngsters to read for themselves."
—School Library Journal
In the February 15, 2008 issue of
Booklist, reviewer Carolyn Phelan writes of Nathan Clement's
Drive:
"Graphically more sophisticated than most books on trucks, the artwork features clean lines, even shading, and strong compositions. ... Recommended for the many young children intrigued by trucks, this picture book offers large illustrations of a powerful red truck hauling two different trailers as well as a chance to ride along with the driver for a day."
School Library Journal, in its March 2008 issue, features a review of Nathan Clement's
Drive:
"[T]he minimal text expresses the warm, loving sentiment of a father and child playing at the end of the day... The text is printed in a large, clear font, with simple declarative sentences that will encourage youngsters to read for themselves."
Kirkus Reviews awards Nathan Clement's book
Drive with a starred review in its January 1, 2008 issue:
"Striking graphics... The images and sans-serif typeface are reminiscent of Donald Crews in their boldness and simplicity, perspective and angle emphasizing the immensity of the truck and the heroism of its working-class driver. Indeed, in its strong, steady lines and depiction of a deeply pastoral Midwest, this offering could well be seen as the Great American Truck Book."
Publishers Weekly in its January 14, 2008 issue, awards Nathan Clement's picture book,
Drive, with a starred review. This is the second starred review for
Drive.
Publishers Weekly writes:
"Clement makes a noteworthy picture book debut with this day-in-the-life story of a trucker, as told through the eyes and succinct words of his young son. ...Clement’s visual storytelling that sets this book apart, and gives many of the images all the power of a six-cylinder, 16.1-liter diesel engine. ... Unusual and often cinematic perspectives—a thigh-high view of Daddy gripping the gear shift, a bumper’s-eye view of a traffic jam—plunge readers into the action and give the compositions a red-blooded energy."
