Number One Sam

Both my 2 and 4 year old boys enjoyed this book and went back to it later on their own. I picked it as my oldest is slightly obsessed with being first. I was hoping for more of why it is okay not to be first, but it was nice to have the topic addressed in the form of kid's entertainment. Good lesson.

When it comes to car racing, Sam the dog is the best. He's number one at speed, at turns, even at finishing races in the number-one spot! And yet one day Sam's friend, Maggie the elephant, beats him to the finish line. Sam is no sore loser, but he's disappointed and confused: if he isn't number one, who is he? And what's he willing to do to win? With easy-to-read words and retro-cartoony art (from award-winning author and illustrator Greg Pizzoli) Number One Sam is a winning choice for new readers.

Picture books newsletter July 2014