Roadwork
Starred Review. PreSchool-K—No construction detail is ignored in this rhythmic read-aloud that takes readers from the "Ping! Bang! Tap!" of the groundbreaking to the "Toot! Honk! Vroom!" of the new road's opening. Extensive use of action verbs and onomatopoeic exclamations guide youngsters through packing the ground, rolling the tar, raising the signs, and even planting trees along the side of the route. Angular road lines—reminiscent of Donald Crews's illustrations of popular machines—traverse each spread, often guiding viewers' eyes in the direction of the next page. Interestingly, the many multiethnic workers depicted in the attractive ink illustrations seem as cool as cucumbers despite their noisy laboring. A picture glossary of roadwork machines is a great finishing touch to this dynamic title.—Madeline Walton-Hadlock, San Jose Public Library, CACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.