Wheels, No Wheels

Wheels, No Wheels follows the adventure of a young farmer as she chases after barnyard animals that have gleefully sprinted away into the city on borrowed wheels. With determined expressions, the llama drives a tractor, the cat rides a bike, and the turtle balances on a skateboard. The angry farmer gives chase through the countryside, despite not having wheels of her own, where “walking is slow . . . [and is] no way to roll.” Finally, the farmer meets an ox and its cart and is then better able to catch up with her rogue animals who have reached the city. At the zebra (pedestrian) crossing (with a haughty zebra crossing it), the farmer finally catches up to them, all landing in a giant heap, with resultant broken wheels and chaos. Luckily, a chicken driving a truck stops to help, bringing them all back home to the farm.

Told with sparse language, Wheels, No Wheels is a fast read, propelling the listener along as quickly as the animals riding their wheels to escape the farm. Children younger than two would also appreciate the story and narrative flow. Illustrations are colourful and detailed, reminiscent of the style of some classic Golden books. The farmer, herself, is depicted as a young woman of colour.