Caboose - by Travis Jonker (Hardcover)

About the Book

When Cedric, a hippopotomous who loves to be first in line, is banished to the end of the line, he unleashes a new array of hijinks as the class caboose.

Book Synopsis

Caboose is a hilarious picture book all about the antics of classroom line-ups from children's book creator and elementary school librarian Travis Jonker, with art from critically acclaimed illustrator Ruth Chan

Every kid knows the joy of being line leader. You can make the line go fast. You can make the line go slow. You can stop suddenly and make the line crash--oh, the power!

Cedric has all sorts of tricks to make sure he's first in line. There's the fast walk, the slow run, the shoulder tap, the slingshot, and so much more. But when Cedric's line leader antics go too far, he's banished to the back of the line. The very back of the line.

Now that Cedric's the caboose, he must hatch a whole new world of hijinks. The turtle walk, the step back, the cloak of invisibility, the "no, no, after you!" The possibilities are endless!

"A chaotic yet hilarious story grounded in real childhood emotions." (Kirkus starred review)
"Comically and intricately mapping a circuitous path through the playground." (Publishers Weekly starred review)

Review Quotes

***STARRED REVIEW***
"Jonker and Chan have created a chaotic yet hilarious story grounded in real childhood emotions...an ideal choice for a read-aloud...on't bring up the rear! Be the first in line to read this laugh-out-loud story."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

***STARRED REVIEW***
"Slice-of-life drawings by Chan show Hippo employing myriad tactics to achieve front-of-line status...comically and intricately mapping a circuitous path through the playground."-- "Publishers Weekly"

"Enthusiastic, active readers may recognize themselves in these pages, and the adults in their lives will smile at the hippo's creativity while appreciating this good-natured opening for a conversation about personal space and empathy for others."-- "Booklist"

About the Author

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian and the creator of 100 Scope Notes, a kidlit blog hosted by School Library Journal. He was a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. Jonker lives with his wife and two children in Zeeland, Michigan. He is the author of The Very Last Castle and Blue Floats Away as well as the author-illustrator of Just One Flake. Ruth Chan is an illustrator and author who spent her childhood tobogganing in Canada, her teens in China, a number of years studying art and education, and a decade working with youth and families in underserved communities. She now writes and illustrates full-time in New York City.