  | Toad on the go (Towed By Toad) Author: Awan, Jashar | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
Toad is in a rush to get to someone who needs a tow. He loves to help and he doesn't want to keep anyone waiting! But when his haste gets him into an accident, Toad learns an important message about acknowledging our mistakes and helping to fix them together.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (03/15/26)
School Library Journal (+) (06/12/26)
Booklist (06/01/26)
The Hornbook (00/05/26)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 06/01/2026 Toad is back in action, towing trucks and cars. When mistakes happen, Toad is there to help! After he receives a call, he’s off on the go! But oops, Toad goes too fast when the light turns green and accidentally bumps into Winnie Neigh-Nay. As Toad drives back to his shop, readers will see all the accidents his neighbors have. Once he gets home, Toad’s pop reminds that mistakes happen and that they are fixable! Like Awan’s previous Toad book, this story shares an important virtue in a way that has kid-appeal. Gentle, easy-to-grasp storytelling makes for both a great read-aloud and a useful tool for those working on their reading skills. The colors are saturated and bold yet have a gentle feel. While clearly different than the original story, Toad on the Go will still appeal to those who loved Towed by Toad. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 06/12/2026 PreS-Gr 2—Toad the tow truck driver is back behind the wheel and learning an important lesson about making mistakes. When a call comes into Pop's Tire & Car Repair that "Sharp Pat has a flat," Toad eagerly speeds off in his truck. His enthusiasm gets the better of him when a red light turns green; Toad, impatient, lurches his truck forward and crashes into the slower car ahead. Embarrassed and frustrated, Toad returns to the shop with both the damaged vehicle and his own crumpled tow truck. Fortunately, Pop is there to provide steady reassurance and a gentle reminder that everyone makes mistakes, and most can be fixed. Awan employs the same effective techniques seen in his Geisel honoree Towed by Toad: an accessible font, uncluttered page design, and rhythmic, alliterative text paired with gentle humor. The clear one-to-one correspondence between text and Awan's stylized, digitally drawn illustrations and thoughtful visual cues like background color shifts and expressive sounded words make this book especially supportive for young readers. Beyond its readability, Toad's ordeal offers an honest and developmentally appropriate portrayal of making mistakes and managing the emotions that follow. Toad's experience will resonate with young readers, encouraging reflection without feeling didactic. Awan reinforces that while mistakes are inevitable, how we respond to them matters. VERDICT This must-have follow-up is a strong addition to picture book collections supporting early readers.—Louie Lauer - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
