The tractor has a wobbly wheel by Tim Saunders. Illus. by Carla Martell

Oh no! The tractor has a wobble wheel and a wobbly wheel is not ideal, So we must fix this wobbly wheel!

And so the farm animals set to, each with their own idea, but each making things worse until all they have is a leaky, squeaky, lumpy, clunky, shaky, bumpy, thumpy, knobbly wobbly wheel. What can they try next? And will it solve the problem?

Using all the prompts that very young children adore in their stories such as known characters, familiar scenarios, humour, rhyme, rhythm and repetition, this is a story to share with little ones just for the sheer joy of having the words roll off your tongue, watching them realise the pattern and then join in. You don't even have to be in a rural area like me for them to have fun with it. Imagine them moving and sounding like the wheel; predicting who will be the next "mechanic" and whether the attempt will be successful; and then their reaction to the ending. It's the epitome of why we share stories with them!

Hats off to these Kiwi creators for this burst of fun.

Themes: Tractors, Wheels.

Barbara Braxton