That's Not My Truck...
The textures are mechanical rather than furry—shiny hubcaps, bumpy tyres, a squashy seat—which is the version that lands with a toddler who will only accept vehicles. Same sentence frame, so they can 'read' it on day one.
That's Not My Truck... by Fiona Watt is estimated to take about 3.5 minutes to read aloud (90 words, about 1 sentence a page), and it lands best with children aged 0-3.
Check the book on AmazonAffiliate link
- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 3.5 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Estimated word count
- 90Our estimate
- Sentences per page
- 1Sentence per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 4/5repeat friendly
- Vocabulary level
- 2/5everyday words
- Best for
- Ages 0-3Our editorial fit
Our review
This version of the series swaps out animal fur for mechanical textures like shiny metal or bumpy rubber. The use of tactile surfaces allows toddlers to explore different physical sensations through the lens of vehicles.
The consistent sentence structure makes the book very accessible for very young children. It is an ideal choice for a toddler who has a specific obsession with cars and trucks.
Before you buy it
With eight spreads featuring only one sentence each, adults will likely lose interest long before a toddler does.
Themes
- textures
- trucks
- adjectives
- vehicles
Books like That's Not My Truck...
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read That's Not My Truck... aloud?
About 3.5 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 90. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is That's Not My Truck... actually for?
Ages 0-3 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 1 sentence a page and vocabulary at 2 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does That's Not My Truck... survive being read on repeat?
Yes. It survives a fortnight of nightly repeats, which is the real test.
Is That's Not My Truck... a good book for a child who will not sit still?
It helps that it has a refrain a child can join in with, and it asks the child questions to answer out loud. Those three features are what keep a wriggling toddler listening, far more than the subject matter does.
Will my child memorise That's Not My Truck...?
Probably, and fast. The book leans on a repeated refrain, and at 4 out of 5 for re-read tolerance it survives the nightly repeats that get a book memorised. Expect your child to chant the pattern back before they can actually read.
Can a beginning reader read That's Not My Truck... on their own?
It is closer than most picture books. With 1 sentence a page and plain vocabulary (2 out of 5), a confident early reader can attempt it, though it is written to be read aloud first.
Is That's Not My Truck... part of a series?
Yes, it belongs to the That's Not My series. It stands on its own, so you can start here without reading the others in order, then move to the rest if it lands.
What themes does That's Not My Truck... cover?
We tag it with textures, trucks, adjectives and vehicles. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.
