The Ride Along Series: My Hometown

It's time for a ride in the car. What do you see when you look out your window?

The Ride Along Series: My Hometown is the first book in a heartfelt collection that captures the everyday wonders of a car ride through a child's eyes. Inspired by real moments between a mother and her son, this sweet, rhyming story turns ordinary drives into meaningful adventures. Designed to support early language development, the book pairs clear, repetitive language with bright, familiar scenes to build vocabulary and connection while offering a sense of predictability for those who find car rides overwhelming. Its sensory-rich illustrations and inclusive, character-free design make space for every child to see themselves in the story. Ideal for parents, speech therapists, and educators, The Ride Along Series offers a playful, engaging way to encourage children to observe, name, and connect with the sights of their neighborhood. Buckle up-we're going for a ride!

About the Author

Inspired by her son's love for his car seat, long car rides, and most of all, their morning commute, New Jersey native Ashley L. Matias began to ask him, "What do you see?" That simple question transformed their daily routine into an adventure and created countless opportunities to interact. With a deep sense of empathy and a commitment to support her son's speech development, Ashley turned to her love of poetry and songwriting to help her son find his voice. Drawing from her own memories of sitting in a car seat, she created The Ride Along Series to capture the world through a child's eyes and encourage parents to slow down and narrate the often overlooked, yet meaningful, moments of childhood.

Tell Us About Your Idea

Submit this short form and one of our editors will be in touch shortly!