Mr. Gumpy's Motor Car

A man sets off for a drive in his old motor car, and one by one the children and animals pile in — until rain and mud bring the whole journey to a muddy halt.

For the kid who wants everyone invited — every friend, every animal, every seat filled — this is the drive where nobody gets left behind.

• Big idea: When things go wrong, everybody pitches in — and there's always room for one more.
• Vibes: Gentle, sunny, cumulative, with a splash of mud and a happy ending.

• enjoy cumulative stories with a growing cast of characters
• like to name and count each animal as it joins in
• are working on taking turns and helping when things get hard
• respond well to calm, predictable stories with a satisfying resolution

• Story recall: Can you remember all the animals and children who climbed into Mr. Gumpy's motor car?
• Story & problem-solving: What happened when it started to rain and the car got stuck in the mud?
• Real-life connection: Have you ever had to help push or pitch in when something got stuck?
• Imagination: If you could ride along in Mr. Gumpy's motor car, where would you want to sit?
• Feelings & empathy: Why do you think everyone made excuses instead of helping push the car at first?