Dixie O'Day: In the Fast Lane

From the celebrated mother-and-daughter duo comes this chapter book, the first in a series, which oozes old-fashioned charm, both in story and artwork. Dixie O’Day’s best friend is Percy, and his most treasured possession his second-hand red car. Together, the friends pass their time cleaning it, going for leisurely drives and avoiding snooty next-door neighbour Lou Ella and her brand-new pink convertible. The problem is that Dixie’s car is always breaking down. Undeterred, Dixie enters the All-Day Race from Didsworth to Dodsworth, with Percy as co-driver. Inevitably, they break down, and it seems that nothing can stop rival Lou Ella from winning – except perhaps her own selfish attitude.

The balance between text and pictures is joyous. The story is full of sparkle and warmth, moving along at a cracking pace to project a world in which friendship, courtesy and concern for others prevail. Its plot unfolds in a logical and cheerful fashion, adding twists and an assortment of minor characters along the way. The two-colour illustrations accentuate the old-fashioned feel of the book. Friendly and vibrant, they incorporate movement, patterned surfaces and a range of jolly characters dashing around the landscape. The book is elegantly designed and visually enticing – with large type, short line lengths and illustrations on or across every page – and contained within a small, chunky format perfect for small hands.