Move over Grand Prix! After gassing up and lining up, 12 different types of animals, each in his or her own unique vehicle, are off, veering through the countryside, careening over hill and dale and through a village. Soon the front-runners a giraffe in a safari-mobile, a monkey in a banana-shaped vehicle, a dog on a motorcycle, a mouse on his three-wheeled slice of cheese (which seems to be his snack as well) all fall away until only the snail on his skateboard is left to cross the finish line and claim the prize. Children will cheer for these brightly colored cartoon figures, somewhat reminiscent of Richard Scarry's work, and groan as their favorites gets sidelined along the way. The lively rhyming text provides an exciting play-by-play commentary. For more racing action, check out The Wheels on the Race Car, by Alexander Zane (2005); Hot Rod Hamster, by Cynthia Lord (2010); and The Racecar Alphabet, by Brian Floca (2003).--Enos, Randall Copyright 2010 Booklist

PreS-Gr 1-An array of animals takes off in a race, ensconced in vehicles of every description, from a rainbow-wheeled wheelchair to tricked-out motorcycles and cars made of bananas, logs, carrots, or cheese. Bouncy rhymes curve along the race course as the critters speed, swerve, and careen around the serpentine country roads, encountering obstacles, crashes, and even having time for a swim. The journey is as much fun as seeing the skateboarding snail take the winner's cup for his slow, undistracted pace. Bright, colorful illustrations feature bold dark lines and saucy, big-eyed characters zooming across the spreads. With a line or two on every page, this book can be used with groups, although kids with the need for speed and a love of vehicles will pore over the pictures and find details to delight on their own.-Marge Loch-Wouters, La Crosse Public Library, WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A dozen types of animals at the helms of exotic or improbable vehicles (e.g., two rabbits drive a carrot-shaped car; a snail rides a skateboard) compete in a road race. Dempsey's rhymes bounce right along down the track. Though it's not clear why these are "mini" racers, they are awfully cute, and Strevens-Marzo gives them lots to do. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.