Construction

Another rhythmic read-aloud for machine and building site enthusiasts from the team behind Roadworks and Demolition.

Thonk! Clonk! Clap! The team behind Roadworks and Demolition returns to the building site with another winner for pre-school fans of machines and building sites! Describing all the heaving and hammering involved in building a new library, this book is full of action-packed illustrations, irresistible sound words, and includes a pictorial glossary of all the machines in the book, too.

Review

The New Zealand duo who created Roadwork and Demolition turn their considerable talents to the building of a library. … Printed in large, clear letters, the rhythmic text uses basic vocabulary, strong verbs, and onomatopoeia, making it wonderful to read aloud. Artwork is done in ink, acrylic, and colored pencil on full-bleed spreads where pigmented inks and a variety of perspectives are used to great effect. … The simplicity of the telling and the rich details in the spreads make this a must-have for all libraries serving young children.
School Library Journal (starred review)
Sutton and Lovelock are back for more fun combining dynamic text and illustrations for little builders. … Sutton’s rhythm and rhyming text pulsates, moving the pace along briskly. “Dig the ground. Dig the ground. / Bore down in the mud.” Onomatopoeia rounds out each stanza: “Shove the piles in one by one. / Slip! SLAP! THUD!” Bold, bright illustrations convey the scope of the effort and machinery required to lift stacks of lumber or sheets of plate glass into place. … There’s always room for one more good construction book: Make a spot for this one.
Kirkus Reviews
With plenty of onomatopoeia and action verbs, the rhyming text effectively brings the sounds of a construction site to life. Lovelock s illustrations, cleanly rendered in pigmented inks, portray activity without being overly busy themselves. The text and art move briskly through the various building stages from digging holes for foundation piles to laying pipes to moving in “shelves and books.” Listeners will enjoy guessing what the new building will be before the last spread reveals: “The library s here for everyone. / Ready / STEADY / READ!”
Horn Book
Along with speckles and spatters of paint that add a suitably rugged look, the illustrations depict on-site views of a crane, a concrete pumper, and other machines in use, capped by a final page of identifers and descriptive notes. Bread and butter for budding building boffins. –Booklist Online

About the Author

Sally Sutton is the author of picture books Roadworks and Demolition, both illustrated by Brian Lovelock, and Farmer John’s Tractor, illustrated by Robyn Belton. She is also a playwright. Sally lives in Auckland, New Zealand, with her husband and two daughters. Find her online at www.sallysutton.co.nz.

New Zealand-born Brian Lovelock has painted all his life. A versatile artist, he particularly enjoys drawing people and has won awards for his life studies. His picture book titles include Your Mother Didn’t Do That!, The Rain Train, Roadworks and Demolition. Brian lives in Auckland, New Zealand, with his two children.