Kelly Rice Schmitt is the author of the new children's picture book I Truck: A Big Rig's Epic Trip. It's the latest in her On the Move series. Also an energy broker, she lives in North Carolina.
Q: Why did you choose a truck for the latest in your On the Move books?
A: Kids love trucks, and I Truck gave us the opportunity to explore the USA mainland in a similar way to how we explored an international supply chain journey at sea for a container ship in I Ship.
One fun thing about I Truck is that most kids have seen a semitruck before and likely will again after they read the book. I love the idea of kids applying their knowledge on road trips or as they see trucks in their neighborhoods.
Q: What do you think Jam Dong’s illustrations add to the book?
A: Jam's art is always a delight! Her bright, colorful art is always playful and features fun surprises. It adds enormous kid-appeal to the series. I have loved being able to have a search in find in all the books, and playing it for myself with my own kids the first time is such a treat.
Q: Did you need to do much research to write the book, and if so, did you learn anything that especially surprised you?
A: For every book in the On The Move series I have worked with at least one industry expert to help me with research questions and also to vet the back matter.
For I Truck I spoke with a number of professional truck drivers, but the one I worked most closely with was actually one of my editors' neighbors! It was a really fun introduction for her to make.
A few of the most surprising details include that drivers who live in their cabs usually sleep with their trucks running to keep them warm/cool; that an estimated 40-50 percent of professional truck drivers travel with a dog or cat for companionship while they work; and that a fully loaded semitruck going full speed takes about the length of three football fields to come to a stop --- so don't cut off those trucks!
Q: What do you hope kids take away from the book?
A: I Truck offers a more specific peek into the important role semitrucks play in our lives, as well as the daily life of a truck driver.
I hope kids will read this and look at trucks they see on the roads with a bit more awe at how big, how powerful, and just how vital they are to keep things running smoothly.
I also hope kids will really respect the hard work truck drivers do to be away from their families and drive long hours and through many wild weather conditions.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I Fly, the next book in the On the Move series, will come out Fall 2026! We are excited to be putting the finishing touches on that book too -- so many kids LOVE airplanes and so do I!
I also have The Farm Next Door releasing Summer 2026 from Alfred A. Knopf BFYR, illustrated by the amazing Charles Santoso, about a solitary farmer who must work together with her town to rebuild her barn and business after a storm destroys it. It includes a light introduction to local economies and how we all--including kids--are part of them.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: Don't forget to remove the dust jacket to see the awesome reveal of a different case cover beneath! Also, don't miss the "Trucker Talk" lingo in the back matter to be able to talk just like a real truck driver while they play pretend. There's also a Teaching and Activity Guide for the book.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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