The Old Truck (Hardcover)

The Old Truck By Jerome Pumphrey, Jarrett Pumphrey Cover Image

The Old Truck (Hardcover)

$17.95


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Winter 2019 Kids Indie Next List


“Full of nostalgia and wonder, this is a sweet and simple tale of determination and growth. I am absolutely in love with the stamp illustrations in The Old Truck and the young girl who lives, works, and dreams at the farm. A great addition to a home library, this is for fans of things that go and the work of illustrator Christian Robinson!”
— Eugenia Vela, BookPeople, Austin, TX

A young girl turns her imagination into action in this beautifully crafted and intricately designed debut picture book.


When is an old truck something more? On a small, bustling farm, a resilient and steadfast pickup works tirelessly alongside the family that lives there, and becomes a part of the dreams and ambitions of the family’s young daughter.


After long days and years of hard work leave the old truck rusting in the weeds, it’s time for the girl to roll up her sleeves. Soon she is running her own busy farm, and in the midst of all the repairing and restoring, it may be time to bring her faithful childhood companion back to life.


With an eye-catching retro design and cleverly nuanced illustrations, The Old Truck celebrates the rewards of determination and the value of imagination.



Jerome Pumphrey is an author/illustrator and a graphic designer at The Walt Disney Company. He lives in Clearwater, Florida.

Jarrett Pumphrey is an author/illustrator and the former cofounder and CEO of a tech startup. He lives in Austin, Texas.

Product Details ISBN: 9781324005193
ISBN-10: 132400519X
Publisher: Norton Young Readers
Publication Date: January 7th, 2020
Pages: 48
Language: English
This heartfelt celebration of resilience in the face of change, with a determined black woman at its center, packs a powerful punch. As the old truck stays with its family, this charming book will stay with readers.
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

This affectionate, pithy, and eloquent homage to farm life...is uncommonly charming and rewards repeat readings.
— Booklist (starred review)

A celebration of diligence and grit, the quiet text conjures a cyclical Giving Tree–reminiscent relationship, but with a healthier, deeply loving dynamic.

— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

This gentle chronicle of years blazes with the power of family, determination, and perseverance.
— School Library Journal (starred review)

An instant classic.
— BookPage (starred review)

The Old Truck is a quietly powerful ode to hard work and perseverance...Place this beauty on a low shelf with easy access. It will likely be in regular circulation among discerning young readers.

— Shelf Awareness (starred review)

Infused with cheer and playfulness.
— Horn Book Magazine (starred review)

The Pumphreys have created a book that’s both timeless and au courant.
— New York Times Book Review

Quietly lyrical.
— Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Coverage from NPR