• Age: 5 to 8
• Grade: k to 3

Number 14 was a good old truck. But it was getting worn out; with a cab so dirty you had to put a towel down to protect your clothes. So when Dad brings home the company's newest truck one steamy hot afternoon, Nancy, her brother and sister are hopping with excitement.

Number 21 is big, red and beautiful. It shines so brightly, the kids can see their reflections on the cab door. And inside it's perfect - the radio plays Dad's favourite country music, and the horn has a blast that is pure joy. Even the glove box has three chocolate bars in it.

But Number 21 is more than beautiful. Dad pulls out the garden hose, throws it over the side of the dump box, and soon the truck is a swimming pool! When the perfect afternoon is over, Dad backs the new truck into the gravel lane and pulls on the hoist. As the box slowly begins to tilt, Number 21 has one more surprise in store.

Deines Hundal is a Fitzhenry and Whiteside author.

Deines Hundal's profile page

"This sweet family vignette is illustrated with impressionistic paintings suffused with the warm tones of a summer day. Although the traditional layout employs text on the pages opposing the primary illustrations, the use of characters on the white space surrounding the typeface draws readers into the pictures and does a nice job of connecting the story to the visual narrative. This tale offers a bit more substance than the many other stories available for the legions of truck enthusiasts."
— School Library Journal