Earnhardt, jr. Dale with Caryn Rivadeneira. Buster Gets Back on Track. Illustrated by Ela Smietanka. Nashville, TN: Tommy Nelson, 2023.

Guide to categories: Kid Review – review of books for elementary-aged and younger children

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Summary

Buster is back! NASCAR legend and New York Times bestselling author Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s second children’s book features an entertaining off-road adventure story that teaches kids how to handle difficult emotions, starring the lovable Buster the race car!

In Buster Gets Back on Track, Buster and the rest of the Punchy Motorsports team need to ace some brand-new moves at racing school. But when Buster struggles during practice, he gets hot under the hood–and accelerates out of there. After he turns down a path in the woods, Buster discovers a racing team unlike any he’s encountered. These large military vehicles know a thing or two about keeping cool under pressure, and their dirt track–complete with tire-sucking swamps and razor-sharp rocks–proves it! Will Buster’s off-road challenge show him how to stay calm even when things go wrong, or will Buster’s emotions spin out of control?

Full of action-packed artwork from Ela Smietanka, this follow-up to Buster’s Trip to Victory Lane

• is ideal for ages 4–8;
• teaches kids how to process their emotions and calm down when they feel overwhelmed;
• is a perfect purchase for back-to-school celebrations, birthdays, and Christmas; and
• is a fun, read-aloud book for story times at libraries and schools.

Kids will love to see Buster get back on track in this heartfelt tale about growing up.

Purchase Buster Gets Back on Track on Amazon – https://amzn.to/3HuQYX1

My Kid Review

On the surface Earnhardt has written a book about race cars and friends. But, on a deeper level, it is about accepting yourself and breathing deep to calm yourself when you get frustrated. Buster Gets Back on Track is a great book for children who suffer from panic attacks and putting themselves down because of “dumb” mistakes. Many kids love racing their toy cars so this book will appeal to them. 

Ela Smietanka created colorful illustrations which complement the text well. They do remind me a bit of the cars in the Disney movie Cars so if your kiddos liked Cars they will probably like Buster Gets Back on Track. 

Buster Gets Back on Track would be a good addition to the picture book section of a K-12 Christian school library.

I received a complimentary copy of Buster Gets Back on Track. This is my honest review. 

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