This book is a part of the Step into Reading series that is targeted to very beginning readers age for to five. The goes through different types of trucks, the tasks that they do and the sounds that they make. In a surprising twist, the end of the book reveals that all of the trucks shown in the book were toy trucks children were playing with in a sandbox. The words are short and easy to sound out. The illustrations are colorful and bright and hold many clues about the text within them. There are also two sheets of stickers included in the back that might make this book more appropriate for a home purchase or prize. Overall it is a solid easy reader that will hold the interest of young readers. Recommend. ( )

This early reader introduces colorful construction equipment and describes their actions using rhymes and lots of onomatopoeia. The pace of the book is smooth and the text is large with one or two short sentences (three to six words) per page. Full page illustrations provide clear picture clues, though familiarity with and interest in construction equipment prior to reading will keep readers interested and let them make the most of picture clues. The end of the book provides a small twist, as readers realize that the large construction vehicles are in actuality toys that children are playing with in a sandbox. The ending emphasizes cooperation and working together to build something, though the children featured lack diversity. Librarians and teachers should be aware that the trade paperback edition includes two sticker sheets at the back of the book, and may choose to remove the sticker sheets before putting the books on the shelf. The beginning of the book includes the publisher’s definition of their reading levels in layman’s terms, which may prove useful for both parents and librarians. The book is clearly labeled as an early reader on the front cover. ( )

Sometimes simple is the best. It can be difficult to find really simple, basic easy readers. Apart from Mo Willems and Ethan Long, they tend to be bland, boring, or the vocabulary is way too advanced. I am getting more and more parents asking for really simple easy readers with just a few words per page (thank you 4k and your push to make all the kids read earlier) so I am looking even harder for level 1 easy readers that are truly easy.

I was delighted when this showed up on my desk and I discovered that not only is it super easy, it's a subject kids will enjoy with attractive pictures. Each page has one to two short sentences that rhyme with the sentences on the facing page, "Rocks are big. They can't stay./Loader lifts them all away."

As you can tell from the cover, it's all about construction machines, with a different machine illustrated in bold colors on each spread. In the final pages, the reader sees the construction vehicles are actually toys being used by kids in a sandbox.One of the five children and one of the two parents have darker skin and two of the children are girls. The adults change (clothes and skin colors) in the next spread, so presumably there's more parents off-scene in the first picture, but it's a little confusing. Stickers are included in the paperback version I received for review, but I'm assuming they wouldn't be in the hardcover or library bound editions.

Verdict: A good simple reader for kids who like machines and construction. Nice bold text and illustrations, simple vocabulary with some new words for the kids to try. An excellent addition to your easy reader collection. Buy it!

ISBN: 9780375869105 (pb edition); Published June 2013 by Random House; Review copy provided by publisher; Added to my order list for the library