HONK HONK, BEEP BEEP, PUTTER PUTT!

A young child goes on a noisy trip around town.

Ibraheem and Mitu the cat join Baba as he makes a delivery in his autorickshaw. Baba attempts to maneuver the vehicle into traffic while oncoming cars speed past with impatient beeps. He sticks out his leg and beeps his own horn. A car behind them responds with a honk: “Okay, fine! Go ahead.” The drivers have a language all their own, communicating through beeps and toots. Baba reminds Ibraheem that “big and small, short and tall, everyone shares the road”—words that serve as a refrain throughout. As the vehicles drive along a river, the truck driver spots a toad on the road and comes to a screeching halt. The others stop, too, and Mitu chases the grateful toad off the road. The fast-paced story comes alive with jam-packed illustrations that depict the hustle and bustle of a busy city. Brightly embellished art on buses and trucks, clothes drying on a balcony, street vendors hawking their wares, curvy electricity wires, and people playing cricket on the street all add to the lively backdrop. Though the location isn’t specified in the story, hints in the art imply a South Asian setting, and in her author’s note, Khan mentions drawing inspiration from many countries, including Pakistan, where she was born.

A playful and fun slice of life story that underlines a lesson in road safety.