You know what makes the best family read-aloud? A book that practically begs for silly voices—and Little Blue Truck (2008) by Alice Shertle totally fits. Perfect for snuggling up or keeping kids engaged (even the wiggly ones!), this rhyming tale stars a cheerful pickup who—beep beep!—never passes by an animal in trouble.

Fun fact: Jill McElmurry’s illustrations (like the grumpy dump truck!) add so much charm that kids often point out new details on repeat reads. Some parents say the “Beep! Beep! Beep!” parts get stuck in their heads—in a good way, mostly.

Psst—if you borrow this from the library first, no judgment! But it’s one of those stories that holds up to a lot of rereads. (Ever noticed the tiny bug hiding on every page? Sneaky!)