Construction Zone [Board book]

Tana Hoban (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 1 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Crisp, clear, full-color photographs show all the fascinating machines and earthmovers found at a construction site. Even the very youngest readers will want to put on hard hats!

"The roaring power of 13 construction machines is captured in clear, brilliantly colored photographs." -- Booklist

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2. Hoban uses her hallmark clear, full-color photographs to introduce construction equipment. Each of the 13 machines presented is given a two-page spread, one picture taken at middle distance, the other close up. The final two pages match thumbnail photos with explanatory text, allowing parents or teachers to describe what each machine is doing. Though less innovative and arresting than some of her other picture books, Hoban's foray into the world of big machines will nonetheless prove fascinating to children who gravitate to books like Angela Royston and Graham Thompson's Monster Road Builders (Barron's, 1989).?Ann Welton, Terminal Park Elementary School, Auburn, WA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Ages 2^-6. The roaring power of 13 construction machines is captured in clear, brilliantly colored photographs that show a bulldozer, a rubber-tired backhoe, a forklift crane, and other amazing earthmovers at work. They are shown one at a time: on the left is a framed photo of the whole machine in action; on the opposite page is a large close-up of part of that machine from a different angle. There is no text, just the name under the picture; at the back a guide explains briefly what each machine does. A worker is in every picture, relaxed, in control, doing his job, in the background, his hard hat an integral part of the construction site on a sunny, green street. As always, Hoban's photos have extraordinary depth and detail; you can feel the texture of dirt, gravel, and asphalt as the powerful steel arms and mouths and tampers move the earth. For the sandbox crowd and for all those enthralled by what technology can do. Hazel Rochman --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 1 and up
  
• Board book: 15 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books (May 25, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068816918X
• ISBN-13: 978-0688169183
• Product Dimensions: 4.5 x 6.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #621,813 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #27 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Boys & Men > Nonfiction
  • #49 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Heavy Machinery
  • #96 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Heavy Machinery

More About the Author

Tana Hoban's photographs have been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and in galleries around the world. She has won many gold medals and prizes for her work as a photographer and filmmaker. Her books for children are known and loved throughout the world.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Actual photographs of the construction stuff your kids love, July 20, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Construction Zone (Board book)

My son loves trucks (he's 15 mos. old) and he loves this book. It is his favorite. Definitely buy it for your little truck lover too (whenever my son sees a bulldozer, he now says "bull" after reading this book over and over!).

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Construction Zone Obsession, March 12, 2002

By 

Nilla (Renton, WA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Construction Zone (Hardcover)

Construction Zone is the first "truck book" that I purchased for my son. I bought it for him when he was about 15 months. It is by far his favorite book. I need to purchase another one because the pages have been taped so many times. The only problem that I would have with the book is the quality of paper. It's not really sturdy for the age group that reads it. But I also should consider the HEAVY use that our copy receives. The photographs in it are perfect and it names each piece of equipment. It's a very basic book that shows all the basic construction equipment along with a garbage truck. I think it is a fine purchase.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Incorrect names for equipment but good book, May 9, 2007

By 

JG (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Construction Zone (Hardcover)

I would really like this book but unfortunately the author uses the wrong names for some of the construction equipment. We will continue to enjoy the book until my daughter learns to read. After that...

The most glaring misname is the crawler EXCAVATOR which Tana calls a crawler backhoe. The wheeled backhoe is referred to as a backhoe. Plus forklift is normally used for the small machines you think of in warehouses not the larger construction site equipment.

For those who are really interested the other industry names are Manlift (cherry picker), Telescopic Handler (forklift), Telescopic Handler being used like a crane (forklift crane).