Wheels, No Wheels

October 17, 2022
High-speed silliness ensues when a barnyard crew acquires wheels in this concept-driven story. Starting with simple comparatives that highlight round wheels, or lack thereof, McNeill lets the titular contrast kick things off: “A tractor has wheels./ A llama has no wheels.” But chaos ensues when the categories get together, Duck on a Bike–style: the llama on the tractor, a cat on a cycle, and a turtle on a skateboard. A child farmer, portrayed with brown skin and a long ponytail, attempts to stop the would-be racers but finds it a struggle to catch up without wheels of their own—until an ox shows up pulling a cart. A rollicking group ride and a crash later, “nobody has wheels,” but fortunately another means of transport arrives alongside a funny surprise reveal. Artwork employing gouache, graphite powder, and cut paper pops against white backdrops, providing comic momentum for this goofy story, which enthusiastically shows how wheels make things go. Ages 3–7.