The No. 1 Car Spotter
Oluwalase Babatunde Benson can identify the make and model of most vehicles that pass on the road by his village by sound alone—a skill he clearly has learned at his grandfather’s side. Hence his nickname: No. 1 Car Spotter. Many of the adults from No. 1’s village, including his father, have gone to the city to earn money to help support their families. No. 1 lives with his mother, aunt, and grandparents in his family’s compound. Like the other children in his village, he helps tend goats, sell goods at market, and does many other chores. Still, No. 1 is happy to avoid work when he can. But when a crisis strikes, No. 1’s creative problem-solving fuels a delightful series of events comprising this short novel that showcases aspects of contemporary life in a rural village in Africa, including the strong web of relationships among the people living there. (The specific country in which the story is set is referenced but never named.) Author Atinuke brings her lively storytelling voice and plenty of warmth and humor to the first book in this new series. ©2011 Cooperative Children's Book Center
Illustrated by Warwick Johnson Cadwell
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 6-9
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
African Peoples
Community
Humor
Problem-Solving
Responsibility
Small Town Life
Vehicles and Transportation
Diversity subject:
Black/African
Publisher:
Kane Miller
Publish Year: 2011
Pages: 110
ISBN: 9781610670517
CCBC Location: Fiction, Atinuke