The Car Washing Street

The Car Washing Street by Denise Lewis Patrick, ill. by John Ward

            Picture Book—Grades 1-4

            Rating: 4 Stars (out of 5)

            Summary: Matthew and his father sit out on their stoop on a Saturday morning watching all of the neighbors wash their cars. Matthew loves living on the car washing street because something crazy always happens.

            The Car Washing Street is a special story that brings back a lot of memories of the street I grew up living on. Just as Matthew looks forward to the Saturday morning ritual of car washing, I could not wait for the warm summer nights to roll around on my street. As a kid, I would constantly be running around outside with my brother and the several other kids on the block. We would goof around on our bikes or in somebody’s sprinkler, and the water fight that Matthew has with his neighbors in the story is reminiscent of what we would end up doing with the hose out on the lawn. Patrick’s subtle use of alliteration spruces up the text, but other than that, the writing is lacking in any sort of flair. However, I think this is fitting for the story, as it is told just as you would see it if you were sitting on the stoop with Matthew observing the action—it is pure and simple in flavor as it describes what is happening. At the conclusion of the water fight, the group is brought together by some cool refreshments sold by a street vendor. As they unwind with their ices on a stoop, I felt a warm sensation of togetherness that reminds me of the bonding my family shared with our neighbors—an experience that I think is dying out in neighborhood living today.

            In the classroom, I think this story would work well as a preface to a writing exercise. I know that writing about personal experience is easy and students often enjoy the retelling of something that happened over the summer, during a school break, etc. Therefore, we could have a short sharing time and then the students can use The Car Washing Street as inspiration to write about a similar occasion when they had fun just playing around. With this story, I would also emphasize the importance of bonding with friends and family over the simple things—events that happen every day and aren’t necessarily a special occasion. I think we can always gain from a reminder to enjoy the little things in life and remember to play and have fun.