Youngsters obsessed with big machines will enjoy this delightful addition to the cadre of construction vehicle books. Sally Sutton’s well-patterned rhyming text lays out the step-by-step process of building a new road—from loading the dirt to packing the ground and from rolling the tar to painting the lines. “Seal the road. Seal the road. Make it hot and squishy. Spread the sticky tar and stones. Sploshy! SPLASHY! SPLISHY!” A heavy bold font captures the serious business of the work, while phrases filled with onomatopoeia bring it to life. Brian Lovelock’s clear depictions of the machines at work, and the men and women who operate them, are showcased on big spreads dotted with gritty bits of color and texture. (Ages 3–5)

Every preschooler who is mad for machines will revel in this bright, boisterous picture book about the exciting process of building a road.

"Load the dirt. Load the dirt. Scoop and swing and drop. Slam it down into the truck. Bump! Whump! Whop!"

There are many big machines and busy people involved in building a road, and this riveting picture book follows them every step of the way. From clearing a pathway (SCREEK!) to rolling the tar (SQUELCH!) to sweeping up at the end (SWISH!), ROADWORK is sure to draw young onlookers with its rambunctious rhymes and noisy fun.