Tin Lizzie    by Allan Drummond Order:  USA  Can Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2008 (2008)     Reviewed by Hilary Daninhirsch With gasoline prices at an all-time high, this picture book tackles the timely issue of overcrowded roadways. The loose plot centers around aptly-named Lizzie and her grandfather, who lovingly has restored an old Model T, or Tin Lizzie, coinciding with the 100-year anniversary of that car. While Lizzie and her three brothers enjoy watching their grandfather tinker with his car, they engage in dialogue about oil shortage, pollution, and other potential problems related to the burgeoning transportation industry. During their conversations, Grandpa keeps reiterating, 'You gotta have wheels,' though the seemingly wiser children point out the problems relating to so many cars on the road, and end up brainstorming about some possible solutions. In addition to raising awareness of these topical issues, the book is also an homage to the automobile, particularly, Henry Ford's Model T. Reading Tin Lizzie is a good way to spark dialogue on environmental and other issues concerning the gasoline and automobile industries, and the book, with its somewhat whimsical illustrative style, does a good job of doing so on a kid-friendly level. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews