Alphabet Trucks by Samantha Vamos giveaway

Alphabet Trucks Picture Book GIVEAWAY

August 1, 2013
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I excited to announce the book launch of Alphabet Trucks by Samantha Vamos! I adore her last book, The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred!

In celebration of her book launch TODAY, I am doing a giveaway of her new book and hosting a short Q and A with Samantha.

Alphabet Trucks by Samantha Vamos

An alphabetical treat for truck lovers.

Everyone’s heard of a tow truck. And a pickup truck. An ice-cream truck? Of course! But what about a quint truck? A lowboy truck? A knuckle-boom truck? Readers will learn about these kinds of trucks—and many more—while learning the alphabet in Alphabet Trucks.

Each letter of the alphabet is accounted for in this introductory concept book for young readers. From the familiar to the unusual, Samantha Vamos writes in snappy verse to present twenty-six different kinds of trucks, explaining where they work and what they do. From a dump truck that unloads a pile of dirt containing the letter “D,” to a fuel truck filling up at a tank shaped like the letter “F,” Ryan O’Rourke’s playful and light-hearted illustrations involve the letters in supporting roles in each scene.

ALPHA TRUCKS

 

5 Question Q & A with Samantha Vamos

1) How many trucks could you identify BEFORE you started writing this book? 

I could identify a mere eight out of 26! My initial group of five included a dump truck, ice cream truck, pickup truck, snowplow truck, and tow truck. I wasn’t certain that I would be able to create a complete alphabetical list. As I researched and discovered more trucks, I became really intrigued. Through writing Alphabet Trucks, I’ve learned about so many interesting trucks. A new favorite is a Quint Truck. It’s a fire service truck with five important features: a hose, tank, two ladders, and a pump. The Quint Truck therefore offers the pumping ability of a fire truck and the extendable ladders of a ladder “Q” is for Quint Truck is also one of my favorite illustrations in the book. Illustrator Ryan O’Rourke’s retro style has made all the trucks so charming. He included letters (both uppercase and lowercase) in every scene and it’s really fun to spot hidden letters.

For example, check out the earring on the news reporter on the letter “N” page, and notice that the fireman on the Quint Truck is rescuing the “Q.”

2) What is your favorite truck?

It’s a competition between the Ore Truck and the Zipper Truck. I love them both.

The Ore Truck is so immense. Most have wheels that are eleven to thirteen feet tall. The Ore Truck in Alphabet Trucks is loaded with letter O’s.

Zipper Trucks are fascinating. They move temporary medians from one lane to another in order to accommodate traffic. Ryan illustrated repeat letter Z’s along the Zipper Truck’s median.

3) How long did it take you to write this book from concept to final?

It took me eight months to complete all the work. After I had identified 26 different trucks, I wrote rhymes that concerned a feature or function of each truck.

4) How many times did you revise your manuscript?

I have to confess that I revise anything I write multiple times. I revised Alphabet Trucks over twenty times.

5) What’s next?

In between summer activities for my son and family, I’m trying to revise my novel. I need to really reveal much more about my protagonist. I’m also revising a children’s picture book manuscript about a dog. I am dog obsessed and love writing about them. In between, I’ll be working on edits for Alphabet Trains, my fourth children’s picture book (publication in 2015) and a companion or follow-up to Alphabet Trucks.

 

Picture Book Giveaway for Truck Lovers

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Samantha attended Georgetown University Law Center (L’89) and practiced law in Washington, D.C. and Chicago, IL. Her new children’s picture book, Alphabet Trucks (Charlesbridge, 2013, illustrated by Ryan O’Rourke) is a rhyming, alphabet book about twenty-six different trucks (both familiar and unusual!) and how they serve people and their communities. Her second book, The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred won a Pura Belpré Illustration Honor and starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews and School Library Journal. Alphabet Trains (Charlesbridge), a follow-up book to Alphabet Trucks, publishes in 2015.

To examine Alphabet Trucks more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book. 

I am an Amazon affiliate which means if you buy anything through my blog, I get a very small kickback at no cost to you. I use this money to pay for postage and handling for my giveaways.


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Comments: 46 Posted by: Categories: Reading Lists: Easy Chapter Books, Reading Lists: Picture Books, Reviews & Giveaways

By Mia Wenjen, PragmaticMom

46 Comments

  1. Anne
    August 1, 2013 at 7:37 am · Reply

    I would love a copy of this book for my story time!

  2. Barbara Mojica
    August 1, 2013 at 8:27 am · Reply

    This book sound like a winner for preschoolers. I am impressed with the research and dedication that went into producing this book.
    Barbara Mojica recently posted…CARAMEL’S CAPERS CONTINUED!My Profile

  3. Jeanette Nyberg
    August 1, 2013 at 9:07 am · Reply

    I’m such a sucker for trucks- I’ve always loved cement trucks the best because of their big, bold stripes and how can you not love a truck with a spinning back?! This book looks just wonderful.
    Jeanette Nyberg recently posted…Exploring Empathy Through ArtMy Profile

  4. Rosamaria
    August 1, 2013 at 9:24 am · Reply

    I’ve loved Samantha Vamos’ prior books so I cant wait to see this one!

  5. Christina
    August 1, 2013 at 9:39 am · Reply

    I’ve always liked dump trucks.

  6. Susie
    August 1, 2013 at 9:50 am · Reply

    I love the quint truck! I love this book! Its amazing and every child i know loves it too!!

  7. Joey Manson
    August 1, 2013 at 12:43 pm · Reply

    I saw a zipper truck in action 20 years ago and was blown away. I’ve tried to describe it many times (without success), then BOOM! There it is in Samantha’s newest book. This book is a winner, just like her other titles.

  8. Nancy
    August 1, 2013 at 1:50 pm · Reply

    I saw the preview of this book and it looks really great. I want a copy for my waiting room (I am a psychologist). 🙂

  9. Maria Gianferrari
    August 1, 2013 at 1:50 pm · Reply

    Thanks for the chance at winning, Mia!

    It looks like such a fun book! I loved your Cazuela book, Samantha.

    I know the perfect 18mth old girl who adores trucks, so she’d be so delighted with this one!

  10. Maria Gianferrari
    August 1, 2013 at 1:56 pm · Reply

    I forgot to write about my favorite truck in my post above! That would probably have to be a either a backhoe, or those cute little bobcats for snow removal!

  11. Erik - This Kid Reviews Books
    August 1, 2013 at 5:13 pm · Reply

    These look cute! I like the idea of this book!

  12. maryanne @ mama smiles
    August 1, 2013 at 8:17 pm · Reply

    I have always liked dumptrucks, not sure why. Maybe because they can carry so much stuff, and then get rid of it so easily?

    I love books with little details, like those you described in this book!
    maryanne recently posted…World Culture for Kids: Newton, Massachusetts!My Profile

  13. Margo
    August 2, 2013 at 4:28 pm · Reply

    My favorite truck? An ice cream truck, of course! The sounds and tastes of summer! As the mother of two boys, this book is surely going to be a winner!

  14. Larissa
    August 2, 2013 at 10:27 pm · Reply

    I like vintage pickup trucks, like from the ’50s.
    Larissa recently posted…New Product & a Pre-Sale!My Profile

  15. Samantha Vamos
    August 3, 2013 at 3:54 am · Reply

    Dear Mia – Thank you so much! I loved having ALPHABET TRUCKS featured on PragmaticMom . Seeing the contest entries increase has been fabulous. Ryan O’Rourke’s illustrations are really charming. I hope people enjoy them. All the comments are wonderful. I’m so thrilled people enjoyed THE CAZUELA THAT THE FARM MAIDEN STIRRED as well. August 1 was a big day for both books as CAZUELA released in paperback that day. Thank you so much for including me and my books, Mia. Love PragmaticMom and being interviewed has been a blast! All best, Samantha

    • Pragmatic Mom
      August 5, 2013 at 9:42 am · Reply

      Hi Samantha,
      Wow, two books by you released on the same day. The stars and planets really lined up for you on August first!! Now that I know Alphabet Trucks, I’m not sure how I ever survived without it! My son had a serious truck phases when he was three or four! I remember checking out every non fiction truck book I could find but there were very few for preschoolers. We read them all but it was maybe only 5 or 6 different trucks. I love that you have 26!!!
      Pragmatic Mom recently posted…Chapter Book to Build Vocabulary GIVEAWAYMy Profile

  16. Angela @ OMazing Kids
    August 3, 2013 at 7:07 pm · Reply

    Looks like a great book! I work with kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders as a SLP & kids yoga teacher and have several patients who have a high interest in vehicles & trucks. This would be a great way to take their high interest area and channel it towards early literacy learning. Thanks for offering the giveaway 🙂 I found your page via Giselle at Kids Yoga Stories.

  17. Angela @ OMazing Kids
    August 3, 2013 at 7:11 pm · Reply

    Forgot to mention my favorite truck: pickup truck (great memories driving with my Grandpa in his) 🙂

  18. Alvina Castro
    August 4, 2013 at 4:32 am · Reply

    favorite truck? hmmm dump truck

  19. barginmom
    August 4, 2013 at 4:24 pm · Reply

    my fav truck is the old wood side panel trucks, but I drive a ford f150!

  20. Ingrid
    August 6, 2013 at 9:12 pm · Reply

    I’ve always been fond of cement trucks but my 2 year old is currently obsessed with back hoe loaders. This would be a sure fire hit with him.
    Ingrid recently posted…Discovering why children’s books matter (with a toddler)My Profile

  21. Cassie
    August 8, 2013 at 7:47 am · Reply

    My youngest loves trucks and cars. She would love this!
    Cassie recently posted…Color Sorting & Patterns with LinksMy Profile

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