I love discovering new authors and I get more excited if the stories or the ideas behind the stories originate closer to home than usual, that is Perth, Western Australia. Berty Button Gets a Team! is the first book in a series of stories about a real fleet of trucks – Berty Button Transport Perth – based in Western Australia.
These trucks have been traveling around Western Australia since 2007 delivering goods from one place to another. But the special thing about them is that in real life they each are their own characters, are covered in bright-coloured jelly beans and their stories have been translated into 8 children’s storybooks! How about that?
Berty Button Gets a Team! introduces Berty Button, a truck who is about to drive across Australia and is worried that there’s no one to fill in for him here in the West. So he recruits two team members, Quartez and Mini Bert. Next thing you know, these big trucks are off on some exciting adventures as part of their everyday job.
They drive from the Perth City up to the Far North West and also across Australia. There are mentions of some familiar suburbs, like Fremantle and Midland, feelings such as nervousness, as well as products that children would be familiar with like fridges, shed and pipes. But out of the blue some problem pops up and the newbies, Quartez and Mini Bert, apply their problem-solving skills to make sure they don’t let Berty down.
The book is an easy read for me, of course, because I’m 30-something and a fast reader. It’s written for children aged four to eight years. I do find it a bit too wordy for my son who is only five and not yet able to read an entire book on his own. So as usual, I don’t read it to him but instead I tell and retell the story by using my storytelling techniques that I’ve been using with him for a while now. I read silently and retell him the story in my own words without reading word for word out loud. When he’s able to read I’m sure Berty Button will entertain him well.
My Goddaughter who’s six years old has a flick through the book when she last visited. She quite enjoyed it and said the jelly beans look like the birthday wrapping papers! So true! I think at some point we would’ve all bought that wrapping.
Berty Button Gets a Team! is only six months old. Order here in paperback or electronic versions.
Six Question with Marina Bertolino
I recently had the opportunity to interview Marina Bertolino, one of the authors of this book. Now read my interview with Marina…
Author Marina Bertolino joins us to answer six questions on Berty Button and why she chose to write about a truck. Bonjour, Marina!
Silly Mummy: Why this particular kind of truck?
Marina Bertolino: When young children see this truck aka ‘Berty Button’ , parents find themselves explaining a lot about the importance of trucks and what they provide for everybody. We chose to write about trucks given it was compelling to do so and considered an innovative concept and refreshing to the marketplace.
Silly Mummy: When you were writing Berty Button Gets a Team!, did you think “I hope children can see trucks differently now”?
Marina Bertolino: Yes, the writing eminates a genuine interest in the road transport industry and there’s a wonderful blend of fantasy and reality at the same time; for example a child may be reading the book in Mum’s car whilst traveling on the highway reading about Berty Button and Berty Button actually drives past. It introduces young children about the uniqueness of Australia from a road transport perspective and the storyline is based on freight being delivered in real Perth suburbs and Australian destinations such as Broken Hill and Cairns.
The book has evoked the interest of young children to have future careers in the road transport industry.
Silly Mummy: Berty Button Gets A Team is a very fun and colourful book. How do you think putting fun and colours help the story?
Marina Bertolino: The jelly bean concept evokes such interest, laughter and happiness and it seems almost surreal for a huge prime mover to be covered in them let alone seeing massive jelly beans.
Silly Mummy: Was there a deep message you wanted to send across or were you seeking to purely tell a story?
Marina Bertolino: The fundamental message is that the book teaches children about values, teamwork, co-operation, courtesy and pride and exposes young children to beautiful colours and Australian scenery.
Silly Mummy: What’s the funniest thing you’ve heard parents say to kids about trucks, or vice versa?
Marina Bertolino: ‘Hey Sam! Look at how ‘wick-ed’ this truck looks; it’s making me hungry! Sam responds: ‘Dad! – can you buy me one just like this one? Pl — eeeee — se?
Silly Mummy: If you could be a truck, which truck would you choose?
Marina Bertolino: Mini Bert; he’s the cheekiest, zips around town and loves to keep up with Berty Button and Quartez and tries to outdo them.
Learn more about Berty Button on his site www.BertyButtonKids.com and check out the Facebook page here.
Title: Berty Button Gets a Team!
Authors: Marina Bertolino, Marlene Rattigan and Janeen Bradley
Illustrator: Ryan Jones
Publisher: Berty Button Kids Pty Ltd / Australian Self Publishing Group
Publication Date: 10 November 2012
Format: Electronic and Paperback
ISBN: 9780987346315 (pbk)
Pages: 14
Recommended for: Anyone hunting for a fun book to teach children about trucks and team work.
Suitable for: Children aged 4-8 years