Books Jack Reads

It is a well known fact among parents that young children, particularly boys, are obsessed with construction vehicles. However, when it comes to describing what all of these different machines do, it may be hard for parents to phrase it in a way that children can understand. Luckily, New Zealand author Sally Sutton is here to help make it easier with her informative and entertaining picture book, Demolition, the second book in her award-winning series.

 

If your kids are into TV shows that feature lots of big machines, like Bob the Builder, then they'll enjoy this story. What really makes this book special is that it almost sounds like it's being told by a small child watching the work from a distance.

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This is clear not only through phrases such as "Dinosaurs had teeth like this!" (when talking about the demolition shears), but also through the onomotopoeiac words at the end of the stanzas, such as the "Bang! Clang! Crack!" on the wrecking ball page.

 

Also, the writing in this story is simple enough so young children can easily understand what is happening on each page, with phrases like "Metal can be used again" or "Make new concrete from the old" present throughout the book.

 

The book is also filled with lots of cool pictures from the talented New Zealand illustrator Brian Lovelock. These pictures help to show each step of the demolition process clearly, from the cover image of the excavator driving into the collapsing building, right down to small details like the dust masks and safety glasses worn by the builders.

 

Lastly, the book contains an informal glossary at the end, with pictures of all the machines and equipment featured along with a short sentence about their different roles, eg: "A truck takes materials off the site".

 

Overall, this is a fun and lively picture book with detailed pictures and a rollicking writing style, and a must for preschoolers who are obsessed with trucks.