Blue, the official mascot of the Indianapolis Colts, is the team’s biggest fan. Along with leading cheers at the games, Blue takes fans on an alphabet based trip through Indiana in this new book written by Trey Mock. Alphabet books are always fun. It isn’t hard to guess that Blue and friends fly through the air viewing Conner Prairie from a balloon for the letter “C.” Where, however, will Blue take children for the letter “X?” Since I couldn’t think of any locations that started with an “X, I jumped ahead to solve the puzzle. I learned that “X marks the spot where trains used to ride the rail. Now we can play up and down the Monon Trail.” Mock describes each site in two cute rhyming couplets, making the book great for reading aloud.
Yoko Matsuoka’s inspired illustrations pick up where the rhymes leave off, helping young readers (and listeners) envision Hoosier locales. The illustrations are bright, simple and feature Colts’ blue and other coordinating colors. Each illustration also features movement. Blue and his friends ride a boat down the river in Blue Springs Cavern, climb a huge milk bottle at Fair Oaks Dairy Farm and ski behind a boat on a lake in Kosciusko County. Blue’s Road Trip Through Indiana presents one adventure after another to pique the reader’s (listener’s) interest in the Hoosier state.
Finally, the last page features a picture of Blue designed to be cut out. Photograph Blue with you on your next adventure in Indiana and post the photo on Blue’s facebook page or twitter. This added feature adds an extra level of engagement in the activities and enhances the reader experience.
Blue’s Road Trip Through Indiana is available at Bookmamas.
