Author & Illustrator Profile
David Gordon
7 Books
David Gordon is a talented author and illustrator known for his imaginative children's books that playfully blend classic fairy tales with anthropomorphic vehicles. His popular picture books include "The Three Little Rigs" and "Hansel and Diesel," which offer fresh, engaging twists on familiar stories. With his distinctive artistic style, Gordon brings a fun and mechanical world to life for young readers.
Sock and Mitten are both missing something. Mitten is a left without her right, and Sock is all alone in a city where nearly everyone seems to come in pairs. When they meet, they understand each other right away.
Together, they set out to look for their lost other halves, traveling through a world that feels big, busy, and full of possibilities. Smitten is a sweet, funny picture book about friendship, loneliness, and the surprise of finding someone who knows how you feel. Its gentle humor and unusual heroes make it especially inviting for readers who enjoy tender stories with a clever twist.
6-8 Years
40 Pages
Hansel and Diesel are sibling trucks with empty tanks and a big problem: they need fuel. As they roll into the junkyard, they leave a trail of nuts and bolts behind them so they can find their way home. Then the snow starts to fall, the trail begins to disappear, and the Wicked Winch is waiting.
David Gordon turns a classic Brothers Grimm tale into a lively story of trucks, junkyard danger, and family loyalty. With playful echoes of Hansel and Gretel, this picture book gives readers ages 6 to 8 a funny, slightly spooky adventure full of clever mechanical details and the comfort of caring for the people you love.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
The ugly truckling tries hard to be like the other trucks, but nothing seems to fit. She cannot pull logs like they do. She cannot carry hay like they can. With three small wheels instead of four big strong ones, she begins to wonder if she will ever be a good truck at all.
In this warm and witty retelling of a familiar tale, David Gordon sends one little vehicle on a search for who she really is. Young readers will find humor, heart, and a gentle story about feeling different, facing hurtful teasing, and discovering that being unlike everyone else may be the beginning of something important.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
Three small rigs roll out to build garages of their own, and each brother is sure his home will be the toughest on the lot. But a noisy, nasty wrecking ball is coming, and it is ready to crash, bash, and smash anything in its path.
This clever truck-filled twist on a familiar fairy tale gives young readers plenty of clangy fun, bold construction-site energy, and a story built around bravery and teamwork. If you like funny retellings, big machines, and characters who have to think fast when trouble rumbles in, The Three Little Rigs is ready to rev up your next read-aloud.
6-8 Years
42 Pages
The extremely cute animals have a plan: build a sand castle and have fun. But when bullies get in the way, the little builders do not give up. They climb into heavy machinery, work together, and start making something even bigger.
This energetic picture book mixes adorable animals with construction-site excitement, giving young readers a funny story about standing up to unfairness and solving a problem as a team. With its playful contrast between tiny, cute characters and mighty machines, Extremely Cute Animals Operating Heavy Machinery is a great pick for children who love animals, diggers, bulldozers, and stories where kindness and determination have real power.
6-8 Years
48 Pages
Benny Antonelli is so small that the kids on Third Street can toss him, roll him, and get him into trouble far too easily. Being little in a neighborhood full of bigger children is not simple, and Benny has learned to keep out of the way when he can.
Then the Third Street block party arrives, with games, noise, and the kind of challenge that just might give Benny a chance to show what he can do. Written by Laurie Halse Anderson and illustrated by David Gordon, The Big Cheese of Third Street is a lively picture book about size, confidence, and finding the moment when your own special strengths can shine.
6-8 Years
40 Pages
Melvin the truck has a big problem: a flat tire! On a dark and stormy night, he rolls into a spooky junkyard, hoping to find a replacement. To his surprise, he spots a shiny, golden tire that looks absolutely perfect. But as soon as Melvin puts it on and drives away, a ghostly voice calls out, "Who took my golden tire?" Uh-oh! Melvin speeds home, trying to escape the spooky sound, but the voice follows him, getting closer and closer. Who could be looking for that golden tire, and what will happen when they finally catch up to Melvin? Get ready for a funny, slightly spooky adventure that will keep you guessing and giggling until the very end. It's a perfect read for young adventurers who love a good mystery!
6-8 Years
26 Pages
