Mighty Machines

Children's Literature

Five stories previously published as single editions appear here in one package. The machines at work include a backhoe/front end digger, a helicopter, a John Deere tractor, a tugboat and a jumbo jet. Royston is a master at including picture details that young readers are sure to notice—chains, gadgets, winches and gears are all drawn in so that readers can consider how things work. More challenging text than Byron Barton's work and about the same level as Mathieu's old and excellent Big Joe's Trailer Truck, this collection encourages some of the same reading behaviors, such as talking about how a person does his or her work, what items are used for, sequences of actions, seasonal variability on the job and so forth. Each vignette follows a named man or woman performing work with the machine¾a dramatic sea rescue by helicopter of an injured soldier, a tugboat's putting out a ship fire and the everyday uses of a farm tractor. This is a good choice for family reading or for interested new readers. 2000 (orig. 1990), Kingfisher, $10.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Susan Hepler