Snappy Play Set Garage - Ruth Martin and (illustrator) Derek Matthews

Published by Templar Publishing: Dorking, Surrey, 2011.

This is a fun little rhyming book that tells the stories of the various animals who bring their vehicles to get fixed by Larry and Barry at the Snappy Garage. Most of the pages are focussed on one vehicle and its issues, however, a little bit of plot enters in later in the book. An impatient hare who has a racing car has missed a light and gone into the river. Larry and Barry have to take their tow-truck out and pull Harry Hare's car - and Harry - to safety. Then all the animals gather to celebrate Larry and Barry's heroics.

The story is basic and sweet, and about vehicles, so it's instantly a winner for Ezekiel. There is a gimmick to the book, in that when it is sold it also includes pop-out model versions of the garage and all of the main characters. I cannot review that part, though (which I'm sure Ezekiel would love), because we got given a second-hand copy in which the pieces had already been removed.


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