Overview
Toddlers love machines and things that go, and this book gives them everything they want, from a cement mixer to a helicopter to a backhoe. Six interactive gatefolds extend the original pictures to three pages, revealing something new about each situation. The final double gatefold opens into a very long train and shows all the machines at work!
The last spread provides additional information about each machine for young readers to pore over again and again.
William Low’s classically trained artist’s eye adds a new layer to this genre—both parents and children will appreciate the beautiful illustrations, the attention to detail, and the clever situational twists revealed by lifting the flaps.
Synopsis
Toddlers love machines and things that go, and this book gives them everything they want, from a cement mixer to a helicopter to a backhoe. Six interactive gatefolds extend the original pictures to three pages, revealing something new about each situation. The final double gatefold opens into a very long train and shows all the machines at work!
The last spread provides additional information about each machine for young readers to pore over again and again.
William Low’s classically trained artist’s eye adds a new layer to this genre—both parents and children will appreciate the beautiful illustrations, the attention to detail, and the clever situational twists revealed by lifting the flaps.
Publishers Weekly
A book about service machines combines seamlessly integrated fold-out pages with delicate artistry. An "Action News helicopter" hovers over traffic, its spinning, lime-green blades a painterly blur. "Is there an accident ahead?" readers are asked. Lifting the full-page flap reveals that, rather, "a family of ducks is crossing the road." Elsewhere, a "shiny red tugboat must hurry. Someone needs help!"; folding out the page shows the tugboat safely pulling a container ship under a drawbridge. Surprising use of color (a railroad crossing sign lights up against a swirling lavender backdrop) make the mechanical subject matter, always a favorite, spring off the page. Ages 2-6. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Editorials
Publishers Weekly
A book about service machines combines seamlessly integrated fold-out pages with delicate artistry. An "Action News helicopter" hovers over traffic, its spinning, lime-green blades a painterly blur. "Is there an accident ahead?" readers are asked. Lifting the full-page flap reveals that, rather, "a family of ducks is crossing the road." Elsewhere, a "shiny red tugboat must hurry. Someone needs help!"; folding out the page shows the tugboat safely pulling a container ship under a drawbridge. Surprising use of color (a railroad crossing sign lights up against a swirling lavender backdrop) make the mechanical subject matter, always a favorite, spring off the page. Ages 2-6. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Children's Literature -
With the noise of their operation, Low introduces a series of machines on their way to do their job. For each, he asks a question about what it is going to do. To find the answer, frequently an unexpected one, we must open a fold-out to see. A backhoe is digging, a fire truck is sounding its siren, a helicopter is investigating a traffic problem, a cement mixer has a flat tire, a tugboat is hurrying to help a container ship. The double fold-out finale shows a freight train going, "CLICKETY-CLACK…" along the track in a bird's-eye view panorama in which we can spot the other machines at work. The art created with Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Corel Painter seems appropriate for illustrating a machine-dominated world. Realistic images of the action fill the pages, emphasizing the vital operations each machine performs. These are informative portraits and simultaneously esthetically attractive scenes. Cherry blossoms hover over the fire engine; the backhoe digs near a bed of brilliant red tulips; the train clickety-clacks through a multicolored suburban neighborhood. On the final double pages are detailed, labeled pictures of each vehicle included, with added information. See Low himself paint, using the programs mentioned, in a fascinating presentation available on Youtube. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia MarantzSchool Library Journal
PreS-Gr 2
Machinery parades across colorful spreads in this interactive look at equipment. The inventory includes a helicopter, tugboat, cement mixer, and more. The text, one to three lines per spread, is rich in vocabulary. The words and the quality illustrations interact well to portray how each piece of equipment is used in a selected situation. Children will chime in with the "GZZZZZZZZZK!" of the backhoe, the "WWAAAAAWWWWWWWWRRRR!" of the fire engine, and other sounds produced by the equipment. The realistic digital paintings will delight youngsters; spreads alternate with three-page foldouts that show the machines at work. Some reveal unanticipated surprises like a helicopter hovering over a family of ducks crossing a road. The last two pages have small pictures of the machines, descriptions of what they are used for, and labels for selected components. This well-constructed picture book is a surefire hit.-Lynn K. Vanca, Akron-Summit County Public Library, Richfield, OH