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{{infobox
|title=Jack's Tractor
|author=Thomas Taylor
|reviewer=Keith Dudhnath
|genre=For Sharing
|summary=A quirky romp through all manner of wildlife habitats, as Jack hops on his tractor and collects some interesting wild animals. It's great fun for tractor fans and non-tractor fans alike.
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|format=Hardback
|pages=32
|publisher=Hodder Children's Books
|date=June 2009
|isbn=978-0340957066
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340957069</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>0340957069</amazonus>
}}

Jack hops in his big red tractor and drives around. He loads up the trailer with a donkey, parrot, ticklesaur, lion and walrus, but then discovers he's lost. What is a boy to do? Luckily, a small stowaway has been paying attention...

''Jack's Tractor'' is a perfect book for anyone who loves tractors, diggers and other big machines. (I hate stereotyping, but that does really mean it's predominantly for boys). Parents of tractor fans will love the fact that the story is a bit different to usual, taking in all manner of wildlife habitats. The tractor's prominent, but it's not the main character, meaning kids who would be happy staring at the latest John Deere catalogue can have their eyes opened up to other types of stories.

John Kelly's illustrations are great fun: the animals have a zany, cartoony style that hooks you from page one. The pages with monkeys and monsters are particularly worth poring over, to laugh at all the different supporting characters. Spotting the mouse on each page is also a fun little game that extends the interest, and gives you something to talk about.

There are some young book fans who'd love anything with tractors in, regardless of what it was like. Even if you or yours don't fall into this category, ''Jack's Tractor'' is an enjoyable read. There's a strong sense of rhythm and rhyme throughout - it's a book crying out to be read aloud. The idea of heading out, collecting a motley crew of animals, then heading back before bedtime, makes it perfect for anyone who's ever played at going on an adventure. It's fun, quirky, action-packed and a great read. Recommended.

My thanks to the publishers for sending it to Bookbag.

Tractor fans will also love [[The Flying Diggers by Ian Whybrow and David Melling]]. If the ticklesaur tickles your fancy, [[Dino Egg by Charlie James]] is good light fun with a dinosaur theme. [[What Do People Do All Day? by Richard Scarry]] is a slightly more worthy book for tractor fans. (Shoehorning an 'ex-tractor fan' pun in will have to wait for another review).

{{amazontext|amazon=0340957069}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=6427559}}

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[[Category:John Kelly]]
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