Backhoes (Construction Vehicles at Work)

Description

Dig and scoop! Here comes a backhoe. Large, colorful photographs and easy-to-read text gives young learners an up-close look at their favorite construction vehicles.

Kathryn Clay has written more than 40 nonfiction children's books about everything from dancing to dinosaurs. She also teaches college writing courses. She has a Master's of Arts in Literature from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Kathryn lives in southern Minnesota with her husband and daughter.

Young heavy-machinery enthusiasts will want to get their hands on all four books in this engaging introduction to the hardworking vehicles found at construction sites worldwide. Simple four-to-six word sentences convey basic information about each vehicle, including part names and what the machine can do, while the declarative language is clear-cut and consists of words no greater than two syllables. Many of the images set the predominantly orange-yellow vehicles against a bright blue sky and fertile brown dirt, resulting in photos that seemingly jump off the page. With only an occasional single-word caption pointing at its corresponding part on the machine, audience members can immerse themselves in the sumptuous visuals. Additionally, the design incorporates elements from the construction world, such as barricade tape, gravel, and riveted metal, as borders on text pages, creating a more unified and appealing package. An all-around winner, this series won't linger on library shelves for long.-- "School Library Journal"