B Is for Bulldozer: A Construction ABC [Paperback]

June Sobel (Author), Melissa Iwai (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2006 | Age Level: 2 and up

Get ready for a ride through the alphabet at a busy construction site. There's a big yellow Bulldozer, a tall shiny Crane, a rusty red Dump truck--and the construction crew is hard at work. But what are they building?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K-Two youngsters stand outside a fence watching a construction crew perform its many tasks, sometimes stopping for lunch or coffee. They are joined by neighbors and passersby, fathers and children, mothers with strollers, and kids with dogs. Each page has about 10 words of text with one brightly colored letter of the alphabet in uppercase font. Many aspects of the construction work are covered, from "Asphalt" to "Tools," and then readers can enjoy the completed amusement park from "Scaffolds" coming down to the "Z-O-O-M" of the roller coaster. As the work progresses, the change of seasons is reflected in the countryside and in the clothing worn. The full-bleed, naive artwork in bright acrylics depicts the vast scene from many angles, showing a close-up view of a squirrel in a tree or a distant patchwork quilt of a farm, but the construction activities always hold center stage. This is a well-thought-out story that allows children to follow the progression of events. There is a wonderful sense of community as the workers cooperate to get the job done and the neighborhood folks avidly watch at first and then enjoy the finished product. A great choice for individual and group sharing.
Marlene Gawron, formerly at Orange County Library, Orlando, FL
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"Construction worker wannabes won't be able to pull themselves away!"--Instructor

"A great choice for individual and group sharing."--School Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (May 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152057749
• ISBN-13: 978-0152057749
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 9 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,994 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Boys & Men > Fiction
  • #14 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Baby-3 > Basic Concepts > Alphabet
  • #14 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Transportation

More About the Author

June Sobel was born in New York City and grew up in the Long Island suburb of Oceanside, New York. She graduated Skidmore College and has an MFA in Painting from Stanford University. The birth of her son renewed her interest in the read aloud magic of picture books. June loves the challenge of creating books that awaken the wonder of words and pictures in children as well as keep the child alive in adults. She wrote her first book B IS FOR BULLDOZER illustrated by Melissa Iwai when she couldn't find an ABC book on construction for her truck obsessed three year old. Her subsequent books are SHIVER ME LETTERS - A PIRATE ABC illustrated by Henry Cole and the THE GOODNIGHT TRAIN illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith. June lives in Westlake Village, California with her husband, son and a scrappy Norfolk Terrier named Dudley. She likes to devour great books, laugh, attempt to stand on her head, eat Sprinkles cupcakes, watch romantic black and white movies and kayak on glassy waters.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars B is for lots of reading fun, September 2, 2007

By 

J. Jones (Troy, NH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: B Is for Bulldozer: A Construction ABC (Hardcover)

I got this book for my son who is in love with construction vehicles thinking it would be another way to teach the alphabet. The illustrations are terrific - lots of things to see, name and tell the color of. The story, while it rhymes, uses lots of words, not just the same simple ones over and over. (I didn't know it rhymed until I read it on my own without stopping to comment on every little thing on the page!) My son has since incorporated some of the "big" words from this book into his every day lexicon.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Son's Favorite Book, August 4, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: B Is for Bulldozer: A Construction ABC (Hardcover)

My 21-Month old son LOVES this book... he is fascinated by construction trucks and such and gets so very excited when we read it. It is very bright and colorful and gets his attention each and everytime. He loves pointing out everything and is always his first choice to read at bedtime! If your little one is as truck crazy as mine is, s/he'll love it!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful book!, April 7, 2006

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: B Is for Bulldozer: A Construction ABC (Hardcover)

B Is for Bulldozer is not your average ABC book. Loaded with fun and avoiding the standard format, children recognize the alphabet that is intertwined in the lines, rather than starting them--without even knowing that they are in the process of learning. All while learning the names of big trucks and construction terms.

Children watch as construction begins at the site. But what is being built? Anticipation builds for our little readers who start asking by page six, "What are they building, Mommy?" And they actually get to find out. By the second read, they know just when to join in and holler, "Z-O-O-M!!!!!!!"

Read-aloud cadence is not intuitive, but quickly learned as my son will testify. Girls like it, but before you sit down with your young big-truck-loving boy, be prepared for, "Again!" And one "again" won't be enough.

Armchair Interviews says: A delightful ABC book that also tells a story.