The latest of the McMullans tough-things-that-go books (I Stink!, rev. 5/02, and sequels) stars the school bus. Who am I? SMARTER than a ROCKET SCIENTIST, MORE POWERFUL than a MONSTER TRUCK, able to HALT TRAFFIC with the FLICK of a SWITCH. While the title and the school bus itself (a braggart, to be sure) call attention to the buss intelligence, the book focuses equally on its role as protector and caretaker: Takes BRAINS to do my job--drive you to SCHOOL and keep you SAFE! A double-page spread shows the bus will need to make three stops (Count em!) and then embarks on the route (Wheels, lets roll!). Throughout the ride, the bus uses and explains laws and safety features unique to school buses on the road. Traffic must slow for flashing amber lights and stop for flashing red lights and for the stop paddle. When a car ignores the rules, it gets a ticket. The bus makes a point to greet students by name and keep them safe while boarding and exiting as well as while on board, using creativity to address (minor) behavior problems. Watercolor illustrations use loose lines and shapes for the bus and other vehicles, making them seem as human as the passengers, who are thoughtfully differentiated. Like other vehicles in the series, the bus is proud of its job and accomplishments and is more than happy to show off for an audience. julie roach (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

PreS-Gr 2-Oozing confidence and energy, a big-eyed, grinning school bus describes his morning route, informing listeners that it "takes BRAINS to do my job-drive you to SCHOOL and keep you SAFE!" As with previous titles, the McMullans (I'm Brave!; I Stink!; I'm Cool!) infuse everyday activities with an infectious excitement bound to entice vehicle-loving youngsters. When the bus's lights flash amber, it means "Cars and trucks, SLO-O-O-OW DOWN!" And when the lights turn red and the bus's stop paddle pops out, he commands, "Everybody stop! And don't move till I quit flashing." When a sporty silver car doesn't heed the bus's warning to halt, a police car shows up-to the glee of the bus's passengers. After a closed lane brings traffic to a crawl, the bus keeps the bored kids from getting antsy with a pop quiz, alerts them about a bump in the road, and, at last, delivers them to school. Rendered in bold colors and fonts and rarely skimping on the exclamation points, the text is utterly exuberant, ideal for read-alouds. Though the vehicles have a goofy, cartoonish look, the watercolors are painterly and elegant, particularly those depicting the wide expanse of houses along the bus's route. VERDICT A perfect back-to-school storytime option, and a fun way to prepare children who are nervous about taking the school bus for the first time.-Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

As Adam Rex and Christian Robinson's School's First Day of School (2016) gave readers a school building's point of view, the McMullans now give kids a peek inside the mind of a school bus. This bus is bold and in-your-face, trying almost too hard to be cool; it's a persona that slightly clashes with the bus' sway back, toothy grille grin, and huge windshield eyes. "Who am I? / Smarter than a rocket scientist, / More powerful than a monster truck, / able to halt traffic with the flick of a switch." This bus only has three stops (shown on an aerial view of the town), so riders board in long lines. Other than noting that cars have to slow down for the bus's amber flashing lights and stop for the red ones (or else get a ticket, as one speeding auto does), there are no safety rules here. The bus does have to wait its turn to get by a construction area, and it keeps the kids from getting rowdy by asking them questions: a raised hand signals yes. Another staple of bus riding gets a spread: going over a bump. In Jim McMullan's watercolor illustration, the bus is shown in profile with the side removed, and the kids are hovering above their seats, motion lines showing the bounce and smiles on their faces. All in all, this feels like a pale dilution of the creators' zippy first in this series, I Stink! (2002). Takes credit away from the human bus drivers, who deserve a book of their own. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A confident school bus takes command of the road (and the storytelling) in this upbeat addition to the McMullans' long-running series of vehicular titles. Readers follow the bus as it makes its morning rounds: "Red lights? Flash! Flash! Flash! Stop paddle? Everybody stop! And don't move till I quit flashing!" The bus has fewer bells and whistles than the trucks in previous books, but it's a quick thinker, keeping its riders occupied with questions when roadwork throws a wrench in their routine. Once again, the brash narration and watercolor artwork offer buckets of personality on each page. Ages 4-8. Agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Continuing the popular series that began with I Stink! (2002), the McMullans introduce a school bus that considers itself asmart, powerful, quick-thinking, safety-conscious, and reliable character. With a grin on its grill and a take-charge attitude, it clearly enjoys its work. This traditional yellow bus follows its route, pushes out the stop-sign paddle to halt traffic, loves its young passengers (each individually named), delivers them safely to school, and promises to be there later for the return trip. Though perhaps not the strongest entry in the McMullans' series, this picture book has its charms. Preschoolers intrigued by school buses rolling around their neighborhoods will definitely be on board with the outside, inside, and cross-sectional views of this personified (and apparently driverless) vehicle, and kids intrigued by maps will enjoy tracing the bus' route along bird's-eye views. The watercolor illustrations create their own momentum, with quieter scenes introducing students and the route while the more exciting ones detail traffic snafus. Picture-book fun for school-bus fans.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2017 Booklist