‘What Trucks Love to Do 2’ Celebrates Helper Vehicles in a Busy, Pun-Driven City

Kelly Riera’s second picture book in the What They Love series turns its attention to the vehicles that keep a city running, building a lively tribute to helper trucks and service vehicles of every kind. Released yesterday, the book places expressive, windshield-eyed characters in a bustling urban setting where everyone appears to have a job to do.

The story moves through a crowded cityscape populated by ambulances, fire engines, helicopters, tow trucks, blue-hatted police cruisers, delivery vans, school buses, dump trucks, street cleaners, storm-damage repair vehicles, and food trucks. Each one contributes to daily life in a way that the narrator frames as worthy of thanks, ending with the reminder that readers should look around and wave a big “thank you” to helper trucks for all they do.

Riera’s text is built from simple rhyming couplets, and the book uses changing type size, color, and orientation to keep the pages visually active. The result is a presentation designed to match the movement and variety of the vehicles on display, giving the read-aloud a rhythmic pace that suits its subject.

Gal Weizman’s illustrations add another layer of personality through two-page spreads packed with punning vehicle names. The city includes characters such as Trailer Swift, Sweeping Beauty, and Volts Wagon, giving the book a comic edge that extends beyond the main storyline and into nearly every corner of the art.

Wordplay is a major part of the appeal. Riera’s naming humor reaches into imagined institutions and businesses as well, including the Brake Dance Academy and a drive-in cinema screening Alfa Romeo and Juliet. That approach gives the book a playful cultural texture while keeping the focus on work, teamwork, and usefulness.

The book continues the concept of the series by examining the working lives of vehicles that contribute to society. Rather than centering on competition or adventure, it highlights everyday labor and the value of public-service roles, making appreciation itself part of the story.

With its bright, busy visual field and easygoing rhyme, the book is positioned to entertain young readers while also offering enough visual jokes and naming humor to keep adults engaged. The combination of affectionate messaging and dense city scenes makes the tour of helper vehicles feel both cheerful and energetic.