Building with Dad

by Carol Nevius

Book Overview

A little boy joins his father at a construction site.

Dad's helping to build a new school, and he takes his son to watch its progress. They see lots of machines at work: a dump truck, a backhoe, an earthmover, a giant grader, a steamroller, a cement mixer, a crane, and more. Finally, the school is finished--just in time for the first day. Bill Thomson's exquisite illustrations, rendered in acrylic paint and colored pencils, are delivered...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0761459847
• ISBN13: 9780761459842
• Release Date: April 2012
• Publisher: Two Lions
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.4" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 4 to 7 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 2

Customer Reviews

Great book for children who love anything involving building.

This book is great for any child who loves to build or any child that loves digging, dirt, and construction trucks. My son loves it. He is 2 1/2 years old and it is one of his favorite books. Great rhyming text that really engages the child.

striking picture book for construction vehicle fans

In this striking picture book with an unusual vertical design, a dad and his young son follow the construction of a new school, from the bulldozers roar to the hanging of the new sign. In the end, workers wax the floors, make sure the toilets flush, and finally, happy children arrive for the first day of school. The highly realistic artwork grabs the reader with unusual perspectives on the giant bulldozers, backhoes, and other building equipment. The different perspectives used by the artist make the large construction equipment appear especially imposing and monumental. Preschool boys, especially those fascinated with construction equipment and trucks, will love this title, which offers short, easy to understand text in rhyming couplets. The construction subject matter is unlikely to appeal to many little girls, however. Highly recommended for libraries and schools, since it makes an excellent read-aloud for story times concentrating on trucks, tractors, or other construction themes. The oversized nature of the illustrations make them well suited for story time as well, since they can be easily viewed by many people. Recommended for ages three through six.

Perfect for any child fascinated with construction

Building with Dad is a perfect choice for fathers and sons to read together. A child gets to observe the construction of his school from start to finish - with his dad at the helm. Bold illustrations show the two riding on earth movers, watching the cement pour, etc. My 4-year-old son, who has always been fascinated with construction equipment, asks for this book all the time. The short, rhyming text makes it easy to read aloud, especially when you're looking for a quick read. Review by Sherry North, Author, Because You Are My Baby

Creativity Unleashed

Everything about this book speaks to an amazing level of creativity. The vertical format allows unusually tall and thin illustrations. It also works very nicely for holding the book in front of you when reading to a group of kids. The illustrator makes the most of the unusual format, turning out drawing after drawing that grab you with unique angles and photo-realistic detail. You have to wonder how he picks out the bottom of a shoe or a backhoe's teeth to be the focus of drawing when the rest of us with merely human powers of observation would probably default to something standard like the earthmover's engine. You would be temped to think that maybe he has drunk one too many Red Bulls while drawing, if he didn't pull it off each time and help you with a new way of seeing. The only quibble I have with the illustrations is that they are a bit too perfect. Look at the kids entering the building when the school is finally completed on one of the last pages. Are any children really that beautiful? I don't see a freckle, speck of dirt, or birthmark on any of them. This book would be a great gift for any child who like construction sites, heavy equipment, or art. Like this duo's last effort, Karate Hour, I would expect this book to be one of the favorites for a Caldecott Medal.

Construction Can Be Heartwarming!

Everything about this book is amazing. The vertical format of the book is very unusual and invites children to look at it again and again. The illustrations jump out at you, making the reader a part of the story. The rhyming couplets take the story of a construction site and weave the story together with the pictures to create a wonderful father and son story that celebrates the theme of the first day of school. Children will love the big machines and the "peek" into the building of "their" school. Parents will love the first day of school celebration, as their kindergarten children head off for their big day. And every primary teacher should have a copy in their classroom.