Are We There Yet?

January 1, 2025
It's 1903, and the prospect of driving an automobile across the United States in under three months seems impossible. Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson makes a $50 wager to prove otherwise. One problem? He doesn't know how to drive. He hires Sewall Crocker, a bicycle racer, as his instructor, mechanic, and companion. Their used Winston Touring Car--which they name "the Vermont"--lacks modern accessories such as seat belts, a windshield, and a roof. There are no freeways or highways yet to connect cities, nor maps to follow. Adding to the pressure, just after the Vermont leaves California, two other automobile teams set out to beat them across the country. Mishaps plague the Vermont on its journey: The duo encounter treacherous terrain, they lack key supplies, and their belongings keep flying out of the automobile--"BOINGY-BOINGY-BOINGY." Their spirits are buoyed when they adopt an ugly but amiable mascot, Bud the bulldog. Stalls, breakdowns, and a harrowing crash don't temper the team's "nothing-will-stop-me spirit," delivering them victoriously to New York City, 63 days after their departure. Friendly digital line illustrations in sepia tones complement the old-timey feel of the text, enhanced by McAnulty's quick-witted storytelling, which echoes an early-20th-century newsreel. Comic-style framed panels pull important moments to the foreground and break up blocks of text into manageable bites. Jackson and Crocker were white; background characters have skin tones ranging from peachy pale to medium brown. A direct route through a funny, adventurous, historical romp. (map, timeline, fun facts, sources)(Informational picture book. 5-8)

COPYRIGHT(2025) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 16, 2024
Driving across the U.S. may be doable now, but in 1903, horseless carriages traveled slowly and lacked roofs, seat belts, and windshields. And neither cross-country maps nor reliable infrastructure yet existed (“Cities and towns had streets, but highways? Nope!”). So when Horatio Nelson Jackson (1872–1955) accepts a wager of $50 to drive to Vermont from San Francisco in less than three months, the journey takes on epic dimensions. McAnulty (the Our Universe series) follows with verve the progress of Jackson, bicycle racer and mechanic Sewall Crocker (1883–1913), and dog Bud as they journey east in a Winton touring car they call “Vermont.” Jackson doesn’t initially know how to drive, the vehicle bounces so roughly that supplies are lost overboard, and better-prepared competitors try to steal their thunder. But Jackson, who has “money and... a stubborn, nothing-will-stop-me spirit,” remains undaunted. Comical, digitally drafted artwork by Baddeley (Splash!) supplies period details, extensive landscapes, and plenty of exaggerated action—pelting rain, flying objects, clouds of dust, and cheering fans. Even inventions have awkward early years, the creators reveal in this can-do telling. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Lori Kilkelly, LK Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Alexandra Penfold, Upstart Crow Literary.

March 1, 2025
In 1903, when Vermont doctor Horatio Nelson (1872-1955) began his attempt to cross the United States in an automobile he had yet to learn to drive, cars were still seen as a novelty, and the idea of an interstate highway system couldn't even be dreamt of. Over nine weeks, with many starts and stops, Nelson and young mechanic Sewall Crocker raced from San Francisco to New York, attempting to complete the unprecedented feat in less than three months. Thanks to the press the journey garnered, it convinced many that horseless carriages could someday be dependable modes of long-distance transportation. McAnulty's witty telling of Nelson's grand adventure is a delight. Interesting and comedic details are given center stage here, informing readers and providing compelling suspense. Baddeley's digital illustrations effortlessly convey the many ups and downs (and breakdowns) of the trip while matching the jovial tone of McAnulty's text. Bright colors pop off the page with comic-style inserts acting as snapshots of the trip. Back matter includes a map of their route with an inset timeline as well as a listing of "fun facts" and source notes. A riveting episode from history presented with joy, laughter -- and a precious canine companion. Eric Carpenter

(Copyright 2025 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from February 1, 2025
Preschool-Grade 3 *Starred Review* In 1903, Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson bet $50 that he could drive his automobile, named the Vermont, from San Francisco to New York within three months. Accompanied by a mechanic and (later) a trusty dog, Jackson drove eastward. To paraphrase Murphy's Law, everything that could go wrong, did go wrong, sometimes repeatedly. Traveling down a dirt road during a rainstorm, the Vermont got stuck in the mud 17 times in one day. Tires went flat, batteries went dead, and spare auto parts were seldom available in rural America. Unknown to the travelers, two other teams were now competing against them, racing to the East Coast. Despite mishaps along the way, Jackson won his bet, but his expenses exceeded $8,000. While kids today might have a hard time imagining their world without automobiles, children in the early twentieth century were fascinated by the sight of a "horseless carriage." Baddeley's digital illustrations reflect the droll, easygoing tone of the narrative, which suggests a bygone era. The back matter offers a map of Jackson's journey and a number of fun facts, such as "Outside Caldwell, Idaho, the Vermont ran over a skunk." Well researched and full of gentle wit, this picture book is fun for reading aloud.

COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.