Faster went the van, faster still, until, until, UNTIL ...

Mr. Man & The New Red Van written by Richard Forbes and published in 1963 by the Friday Press. Edgar Norfield provides the delightful illustrations using primary colours for extra impact.

While not written especially as a beginning-to-read book, the vocabulary is simple, and the few difficult words are repeated to give children practice.

Mister Man lives in a house with a dog, a cat and a small brown mouse. Now one wet day said Mister Man, "I think I will buy a new red van." A new red van, said the cat with a purr, "What fun we will have. It will make such a stir." "A van," growled the dog, "I like to walk."

The mouse had a cold, and could not talk. 

So Mister Man went into town with the cat, the dog and the mouse who was brown. 

The rain came down and the wind it blew. The cat grew cold, and the mouse did too.

"As you make such a fuss we will catch a bus. It will be dry inside, and we will have a nice ride."

The story follows Mister Man, the cat, the dog and the mouse into town and out into the countryside in their new red van.

The dog said, "Now we can go nice and fast," the van sped along. 

But the mouse was sad.

He knew it was bad, to speed when there is no need.

Faster went the van, faster still,

Until, until, UNTIL...

Out of the lorry got a great big man and he came across to the new red van.

And he said, "Am I Cross?"  "Yes, I am."

"It is wrong to go fast, do you see?"

"You'll be sorry you bumped into me."

And with that he gave an enormous sneeze

which blew the van right into the trees!

(This illustration reminds of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets where the flying car ended up in the whomping willow!)

At the top of the tree stood a big black bird,

he stared at the van, and said, "MyWord"

Poor Mister Man!

His lovely new van, red paint chipped, a new lamp ripped - pushed out of a tree, 

Oh, my goodness me!

But the black bird and his friends were eager to help, and it wasn't long before Mr. Man, the dog, the cat and the small brown mouse were on their way. 

A scarce vintage book with a moral tale and beautiful illustrations.  

Mr Man & The New Red Van is now sold, thank you for your interest.