Fiction - Transportation & Travel

Machines at Work

Name: Machines at Work
Author: Byron Barton
ISBN: 9780694001903

by Byron Barton

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Overview

'With the call of 'Hey, you guys! Let's get to work,' women and men shoulder drills and picks, board cranes and cement mixers, and set their equipment bulldozing and steamrolling across vibrant page spreads. Barton generates the excitement of road and building construction for young sidewalk engineers.' —BL.

1988 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
Notable 1987 Children's Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)
Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children 1987 (NSTA/CBC)
1987 Children's Books (NY Public Library)

During a busy day at the construction site, the workers use a variety of machines to knock down a building and begin constructing a new one.

Synopsis

‘With the call of ‘Hey, you guys! Let’s get to work,’ women and men shoulder drills and picks, board cranes and cement mixers, and set their equipment bulldozing and steamrolling across vibrant page spreads. Barton generates the excitement of road and building construction for young sidewalk engineers.’ —BL.

Publishers Weekly

As with his recent booksTrains, Trucks, Airplanes and BoatsMachines at Work is characterized by bold, black outlines and vivid colors. Barton takes youngsters through an entire day at a construction site. The workers, a multiracial group of men and women, arrive and begin their day. Unlike other books on big machines for this age group, Barton's is not a catalogue of heavy equipment. Each vibrant spread shows people and machines actively working. The short, punchy narrative reinforces the dynamics of the illustrations. Kids are fascinated by dump trucks, bulldozers, cranes, cement trucks, etc. This will prove a popular read-aloud for preschoolers and satisfying read-alone for beginners. Ages 3-7. (September)

About the Author, Byron Barton

Byron Barton is the author and illustrator of many books for children, including Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs; The Three Bears; The Little Red Hen; Machines at Work; I Want to Be an Astronaut; and a series of board books: Big Machines, Dinosaurs, Tools, and Zoo Animals. He also illustrated The Little Factory, written by Sarah Weeks.

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Editorials

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

Bold and simple illustrations, plus minimal text make the reissue of this book in a board book format a success. The crew sets out for a construction site and get into their big machines. The wrecking ball demolishes a building, a bulldozer dislodges a tree, dump trucks remove debris, the workers even take a lunch break, and when day is done they head on home. Each spread offers plenty to look at and discuss. Since little kids seem to find big machines and building projects fascinating, this little book should have plenty of appeal. 1997 (orig.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1 Barton's bold double-page il lustrations depict a busy day at a con struction site as workers (with the posi tive inclusion of women) knock down a building and start a new one. In Barton's characteristic style, the bright primary colors and chunky shapes outlined in thick black lines convey an effect that is not static. Energy and action abound. The illustrations are accompanied by the simplest possible text, a one-line descrip tion. The machines shown are not named, but their functions are described. The sequence of events is clear and easi ly followed. Barton draws young readers and listeners into the book by the initial call to work. (``Hey, you guys!'') and the use of the first person-plural (``Let's get to work''). This visual treat, dished up with a nice helping of simple information, will entertain the very young. Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School Library, South Portland, Maine