Great to see a story left up in the air come to fruition. When I corresponded with Mellor following her salute to independent truckers last December, she noted she was looking for the right illustrator before releasing the Grandpa series. She seems to have found that illustrator in Asheville, N.C.-based artist Dana Irwin, who crafted earthy, full-color illustrations to bring the stories to life. Book 1 tells tales of two night runs, demonstrating in suspenseful fashion “why one should never walk into unfamiliar territory, alone, at night.”
- Geography — from the unique perch of a cross-country trucker (in this way, kids learn other-than-GPS knowledge of our great country).
- Historical events (like the Woodstock Music Festival) as seen by this trucker.
- Nature’s fury in the form of ice-slicked roads, blizzards, and hurricanes.
- Important life lessons like “Never blindly follow another,” “Math skills are necessary in ALL jobs,” “Girls can do anything boys can do.”
- The value in life of acquired skills and practical knowledge.
- The unique bond truckers enjoy–fostered by an often-solitary lifestyle.