The Construction Crew

Truck and construction fans will find an energetic exploration of both in this square-format volume, Meltzer and Eko-Burgess’s children’s book debut. Working in synch, the text and pictures deliver a streamlined chronicle of the building of a house. Crisp, electric digital illustrations spotlight vehicles, construction equipment, and workers who resemble fleshed-out Lego characters—the entire project has a “toys come to life” feel. Akin to a high-energy cheerleading routine, the rhyming text offers variations on the same question (“Tons of dirt/ And lots of muck/ What do we need?/ DUMP TRUCK!/ Pour the foundation—/ That’ll fix ‘er/ What do we need?/ CEMENT MIXER!”), a narrative device that will have children shouting out the answers in no time. After the vehicles and workers have done their jobs and a moving truck delivers furniture, the story diverts from its construction angle as the house becomes a home, and the family welcomes visitors: “New friends/ Swapping favors/ What do we need?/ CHEERFUL NEIGHBORS!” Ample fun for truck lovers and those interested in learning about what it takes to build a house from the ground up. Ages 3–5. (Nov.)