It’s not construction but deconstruction—as well as recycling—that takes center stage in this rollicking read-aloud about the demolition of a building. “Swing the ball. Swing the ball. Thump and smash and whack. Bring the top floors tumbling down. Bang! Clang! Crack!” Seven different demolition machines are featured as workers go through the process of tearing the building down and processing the metal, concrete, and wood for other uses. As for the space that’s left behind? A playground is built. “Hip … hip … hooray!” A multiracial cast of men and women are shown carrying out the work in this loud and lively picture book that concludes with a page providing additional information about the machines featured in the illustrations. (Ages 2–5)

What's even more exciting to preschoolers than seeing big machines that build things? Watching
the massive ones that tear them down!

Crush the stone. Crush the stone.
Chip and grind and munch.
Make new concrete from the old.
Whirr! Churr! Crunch!

From the huge crane with a swinging ball (crack! ) to the toothy jaws that ram the walls (thwock! ), this rambunctious demolition, reverberating with sound words, is guaranteed to have small kids rapt. Bright spreads showcase the gargantuan machines in all their glory, and a pictorial glossary explains what each one can do.