School Library Journal Review
PreS-Somewhat reminiscent of Donald Crews's graphic-art style, this book follows the building of a house. Bold primary colors depict construction machines and a crew and its tools, one after another, page by page, as they go about razing an old building, excavating for a new foundation, and eventually constructing a new house. The last vehicle pictured is a moving truck. The rhyming text has a single couplet per page: "Dig now/Build later/What do we need?/EXCAVATOR." Although there are plenty of "big machine" books out there, this one has the added unifying theme of showing the steps in chronological order. Simple and colorful, it should be a hit at toddler and preschool storytimes.-Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Truck and construction fans will find an energetic exploration of both in this square-format volume, Meltzer and Eko-Burgess's children's book debut. Working in synch, the text and pictures deliver a streamlined chronicle of the building of a house. Crisp, electric digital illustrations spotlight vehicles, construction equipment, and workers who resemble fleshed-out Lego characters-the entire project has a "toys come to life" feel. Akin to a high-energy cheerleading routine, the rhyming text offers variations on the same question ("Tons of dirt/ And lots of muck/ What do we need?/ DUMP TRUCK!/ Pour the foundation-/ That'll fix 'er/ What do we need?/ CEMENT MIXER!"), a narrative device that will have children shouting out the answers in no time. After the vehicles and workers have done their jobs and a moving truck delivers furniture, the story diverts from its construction angle as the house becomes a home, and the family welcomes visitors: "New friends/ Swapping favors/ What do we need?/ CHEERFUL NEIGHBORS!" Ample fun for truck lovers and those interested in learning about what it takes to build a house from the ground up. Ages 3-5. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
