How to Read Alice Schertle's Books
Alice Schertle has authored over forty books, ranging from her world-famous early childhood board books to narrative picture books and expressive poetry collections. Because her works are written for young children, toddlers, and early readers, there is no overarching narrative continuity or complex plot that spans across different series. Instead, reading order is primarily about grouping books by their respective characters, themes, and formats.
The Recommended Starting Point
If you are introducing a young reader to Alice Schertle's catalog, the absolute best place to start is the original Little Blue Truck (2008). This picture book establishes the rhythmic, rhyming style and the core message of friendship, community, and helpfulness that defines the entire series. It introduces the main character—a friendly blue pickup truck—along with a charming cast of farm animal friends including Toad, Hen, Sheep, Cow, and Pig.
For slightly older readers or children transitioning into early chapter books, the Cathy and Company series (co-authored with Cathy Pavia) offers a fantastic entry point into episodic, character-driven storybooks. If you prefer standalone stories, the award-winning Down the Road (1995) is a highly recommended starting point for its emotional depth and beautiful themes of growth and family support.
Publication Order of Little Blue Truck Books
While the stories are episodic and can be read in any order, following the publication order is a great way to watch the series expand from simple farmyard adventures to holiday-themed stories, educational concept books, and interactive formats. Here is the publication order based on Alice Schertle's books in this series:
- Little Blue Truck (2008) — The classic debut introducing Blue and his farm animal friends.
- Little Blue Truck Leads the Way (2009) — Blue heads to the big city and learns about patience and city traffic.
- Little Blue Truck Farm Sticker Fun! (2013) — An interactive activity sticker book.
- Little Blue Truck's Christmas (2014) — A festive holiday story featuring flashing colored lights.
- Little Blue Truck's Beep-Along Book (2015) — An interactive board book featuring a built-in horn.
- Little Blue Truck's Halloween (2016) — A lift-the-flap book focusing on dressing up and costumes.
- Little Blue Truck's Springtime (2018) — A lift-the-flap celebration of new life and changing seasons on the farm.
- Good Night, Little Blue Truck (2019) — A soothing bedtime story featuring a stormy night.
- Little Blue Truck's Valentine (2020) — A sweet, holiday-themed book about delivering cards to friends.
- Time for School, Little Blue Truck (2021) — Blue meets a school bus and helps a nervous animal friend.
- What Do You Say, Little Blue Truck? (2021) — A sound book showcasing animal noises and friendly greetings.
- Little Blue Truck Makes a Friend (2022) — Blue welcomes a new neighbor (Chuck) to the farm community.
- Little Blue Truck Leads the Way Padded Board Book (2022) — A durable, padded format of the popular city sequel.
- Little Blue Truck Feeling Happy (2024) — A touch-and-feel sensory board book focusing on animal textures and feelings.
Publication Order of Cathy and Company Books
Published in 1980, this series of six collaborative books with Cathy Pavia is ideal for young readers ready for slightly more narrative structure. They were all released in the same year, meaning you can read them in any sequence, though the traditional ordering is as follows:
- Cathy and Company & The Nosy Neighbor (1980)
- Cathy and Company & Hank, The Horse (1980)
- Cathy and Company And Bumper The Bully (1980)
- Cathy and Company & the Green Ghost (1980)
- Cathy and Company & Mean Mr. Meeker (1980)
- Cathy and Company & the Double Dare (1980)
Standalones, Poetry, and Hidden Gems
Beyond her series, Alice Schertle is a highly regarded poet and picture book writer. Her standalone books do not have a chronological order and can be enjoyed at any time. Highlights include:
- The Gorilla In The Hall (1977) — Her debut children's book.
- Down the Road (1995) — Illustrated by E.B. Lewis, this acclaimed book follows Hetty's journey to fetch eggs and deals gently with mistakes.
- Very Hairy Bear (2007) — A seasonal, rhyming story exploring the natural habits of a lovable bear.
- Poetry Collections — Works like How Now, Brown Cow? (1994), Advice For A Frog (1995), and Button Up!: Wrinkled Rhymes (2009) highlight her talent for engaging children with rhythmic language and nature-centric poetry.
What to Know Before You Start
The success of the Little Blue Truck books is deeply tied to the visual world created by illustrator Jill McElmurry, whose artwork gave the series its signature warm, retro aesthetic. Following McElmurry's passing, the series continued with illustrator Joël Femi, maintaining the visual continuity that fans love. When choosing books, note that some releases are novelties (such as sticker, sound, and touch-and-feel books) while others are full narratives (like the original book, Leads the Way, and Makes a Friend). Parents can choose formats that match their child's developmental stage.