This children’s picture book revolving around auto racing goes beyond boys driving cars to appeal to STEM-curious girls and animal lovers. The charming tale is based on Howard and Anita Millican, IndyCar mechanics and fabricators who opened doors to women in professional racing.

When Howard, a sprint car driver, is rammed during a race by a bullying competitor, his car crashes into bushes beyond the track. There, he finds and frees a tiny skunk tangled in plastic, tucks it into his driver suit, and returns to the track. “Anita, his best friend and super mechanic, was there to greet him,” writes Patterson. “Anita and Howard had been racing together for a long time. How long? As long as the braid in Anita’s hair—which was very, very long.” Howard shows her the skunk, and “Anita’s eyes lit up and she smiled. She said with a giggle, ‘Well, there’s trouble!'” And the name stuck.

Trouble, whose leg is hurt, stays with Howard and Anita as he heals, learning tricks. He never sprays them, as he felt safe and loved. Through their adventures, readers experience the racing world and learn about skunks in boxed sidebars. Author notes on the real Millicans and Trouble conclude the story.

Patterson smartly avoids letting the story of a girl mechanic carry the book, but writes as if it’s simply natural for girls to inhabit this space. The author uses the skunk as a device so readers can learn about the characters: who they are, the depth of their care for the skunk and each other, their place in the racing community. It’s a sophisticated, impressive approach.

What truly elevates the book, though, is Roger Warrick’s youthful, energetic, comic book-style depictions, emphasizing big heads, smaller bodies, sparkling eyes and toothy grins. While Howard and Anita aren’t children, they appear childlike and will appeal to young readers.

With age-appropriate text and vivid full-page illustrations, this is a read-aloud winner for children and adults.