Are We There Yet? is an entertaining travelogue of the first cross-country road trip.
Are We There Yet? The First Road Trip across the USA by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley. Margaret K. Elderberry Books (S&S), 2025, 48 pages.
Reading Level: Picture Book, ages 4-8
Recommended for: 3-7 as a read-aloud, 8-10 for independent readers
“This is the absolutely true story of a ridiculous journey that started as a bet, turned into a race, and ended in a—well, hang on, and see how it turns out.” From the title, readers can guess how it turns out, but getting there is all the fun. The bet was between Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson and a San Francisco gentleman (not identified) who believed, along with many of his colleagues, that the newfangled “horseless carriage” was just a curiosity for getting around town. It would never be practical long journeys. But Dr. Jackson believed in the future of the machine, and wagered $50 he could drive an automobile from San Francisco to New York City in three months.
Dr. Jackson didn’t even know how to drive at the time, but he hired a young bicycle racer named Sewall Crocker to handle the details of piloting the Winton touring car he purchased. The vehicle lacked certain luxuries we’ve come to expect: “things like a windshield, seat belts, mirrors, doors, a drunk, or a roof.” Not surprisingly, Jackson and Crocker ran into trouble right away, and troubles never let up. But the good doctor acquired passable mechanical skills along the way, as well as a four-legged traveling companion he named Bud. The tongue-in-cheek text and lively, detail-packed illustrations make this a fun read you might want to take along on your next road trip. Back-seat complainers will gain new appreciation for smooth roads, swift speeds, and air-conditioned comfort!
Bottom Line: Factual, interesting, and lots of fun.
Also at Redeemed Reader:
- Review: Machines in Motion is a fascinating compendium of the ways we get from here to there.
- Reviews: For more modes of transportation, see 2 Books about Bikes, On Track, and Crossing on Time (starred review).
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