The Construction Alphabet Book [Hardcover]

Jerry Pallotta (Author), Rob Bolster (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2006 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. The author's trademark humor punctuates the informative text of a lively alphabet book that explores the many uses of construction equipment.

--This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2–Pallotta follows the alphabetical formula used in many of his other titles, this time with Bolster's illustrations to showcase different types of construction equipment. Upper- and lowercase letters are paired with brief descriptive paragraphs that explain how pieces of construction equipment–from an aerial lift to a zipper–are used. Some of the machines are used in demolition, some for roads; others to clear land or erect buildings. Treatment is brief. A backhoe, cement mixer, dump truck, jackhammer, and wrecking ball will be more familiar to children than a horizontal borer, knuckleboom loader, mobile rock crusher, quad-axle lowbed, and vactor. The realistic paintings, rich in tones of blue, brown, red, green, and orange, will attract youngsters. Libraries with a high demand for construction-related books should consider adding this appealing title.–Lynn K. Vanca, Akron-Summit County Public Library, Richfield, OH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. This alphabet book spotlights large-scale construction equipment, from "A is for Aerial Lifts" to "Z is for Zipper . . . used to slice asphalt." With three pages left after Z, the book playfully starts over with "A is for Asphalt Reclaimer" through "C is for Compactor" and suggests that children finish the next 23 letters themselves. Pallotta provides more information than most picture books about the topic for this age group, with a typical entry including three or four sentences with an occasional suggestion of the sound a vehicle or tool makes: "crunch, crunch, crunch . . . eng, eng, eng." Sometimes a bit of facetious humor ("Do not use a road cutter to cut your toenails") lightens the tone of the text. The handsome illustrations, which have the look of acrylic paintings, are well composed and precisely delineated. Suitable for primary-graders as well as for preschoolers who have the patience to look carefully for a minute or two before turning the page. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing; 1 edition (June 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570914370
• ISBN-13: 978-1570914379
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 11.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #247,389 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #48 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Heavy Machinery

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars literature and art lover, April 10, 2007

By 

D. Sena (CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Construction Alphabet Book (Hardcover)

After seeing the front cover illustration of The Construction Alphabet Book on Amazon, I knew that I'd not be disappointed with the interior images, and had to purchase this book. My three year old son is obsessed with digger machines, as well as all things construction and farm, and when book after book arrived from Amazon, for myself and my older child, he asked for his turn to receive a new "digger" book. Rob Bolster's dump truck and excavator illustration caught my eye, and as we now have a huge library of construction books, I've become more choosey in the selection of new books. Exposing my children to literature and the arts is important to me; the illustrations that were created for this book are exceptional, accurate, and they capture the wonderful light and color of Edward Hooper. With so many poorly illustrated children's books, even our little guy can point out the mistakes in some illustrations, equipment and even in the text of many books, this is a refreshing addition to our collection. Even for the less sophisticated art lover, the beautifully composed pictures of construction vehicles, that are so full of wonderful color and light, will capture your child's attention as much as the subject and text. This will be a book that I will actually keep and enjoy long after the toddler obsession has moved onto something else. In the future, we will be looking for other books illustrated by Mr. Bolster and hope to meet him at a book signing!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My boys love this book!, August 6, 2007

By 

Andrea - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Construction Alphabet Book (Hardcover)

My twin boys 3 yrs. old love this book. This is one of the books that gets chosen for bedtime reading every night and we have had it for about a year now. I could probably recite all the words without looking at the pages. That is how much we have read it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars extremely pleased, January 7, 2008

By 

Amanda Godfrey (Abingdon,VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Construction Alphabet Book (Hardcover)

I purchased 3 copies of this book. My son and 2 nephews are construction crazed toddlers, and finding this book on Amazon made Christmas very merry. The illustrations are gorgeous, the language very informative, and entertaining as the author provides the sounds the equipment produces. If you want to provide a child with a realistic, educational look at the construction world along with alphabet reinforcement this book is sure to be hit.