Fifi & Friends: The super car race by Tamara Ecclestone Rutland. Illus. by Amy Zhing

Fifi loves her car. She loves fiddling and tinkering with them, so is surprised when Riri comes into her work place with a new friend, a puppy, Teddy, who jumps up at Fifi causing her to drop her wrench barely missing her toes. 

She asks Riri to take the dog elsewhere as she and her friends are getting their cars ready for the Super Car Race. Zac arrives with his green go-cart, Lilly with the go-cart covered in bright flowers, then twins, Mario and Hope arrive with their brightly painted go-carts. 

The horn on Hope’s go-cart falls off, but Fifi takes no time to repair it for her. They are all ready for the big race. But as they line up, Nathan turns up. The group is dismayed as he never plays fair and this time his go-cart has spikes.

A nervous start to the race see the group anxiously watching Nathan, but all turns out right in the end, Nathan even clapping the winner. Bright, detail rich illustrations cover each page, allowing readers to take in the images of the children and the go-carts. Fifi’s workshop is entertaining, and on each page are times to be searched for. 

Lots of emphasis on friendship and helping each other flow through the story in which the group helps each other, are supportive and trusting, leading to a large amount of cooperation between the friends, with even room for the outsider.

Teacher notes are available on New Frontier Publishing’s website.

Themes: Cooperation, Friendship, Car racing, Go-carts, Humour.

Fran Knight