Three Cheers for Kid McGear!

September 1, 2019

PreS-Gr 1-A skid steer named Kid McGear introduces herself to a group of construction vehicles. She is eager to learn and offers to help them. At first, the vehicles don't think she is strong enough to lend a hand clearing the construction yard. Kid McGear hears a yelp and notices an excavator in big trouble. The perspective of the book's illustrations changes throughout the narrative, shifting between landscapes, aerial views, and close-ups among others. This feature of the narrative gives it the feeling of constant movement. The book's construction site characters have vehicle parts which are slightly morphed to give them an animated and lively quality. They also have cheerful and interesting facial expressions. Secondary and neutral colors are consistently used to give the book an earthy look and feel. There is a consistent use of browns and oranges, which work to direct readers' focus to the construction site. Rinker's text has a fun rhyming style throughout and its placement on the page directs readers to move their eyes and follow the action. VERDICT This book encourages children to embrace teamwork, help others, and develop unique friendships. Construction fans will welcome this new kid on the block.-Deanna Smith, Pender County Public Library, NC

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 15, 2019
Look out, look out, construction site. There's a new kid in town. The latest entry in the Good Night, Good Night, Construction Site series sees the five core construction vehicles working as hard as ever. When a peppy skid steer is delivered on-site, she's not quite like the others. Small, energetic, and ready to learn, the little loader is pooh-poohed by our heroes. However, when an accident occurs and traps the excavator and the bulldozer, guess who's quick and able to change to meet every new situation? Using wit and grit (literally), the newest member of the team is able to figure out how to save the two machines, obliterating every obstacle in her path. Child fans of the series may appreciate the combination of construction tools with a good old-fashioned rescue attempt. Their caregivers may appreciate the presence of a heroic vehicle that is identified as female. While Rinker's text occasionally strains the tensile strength of her rhyme schemes ("With a scoop on her front end, / she gives a turn, a twist, a bend"), Ford's stylings blend seamlessly with previous illustrator Tom Lichtenheld's creations. Expect series fans to give three beeps for joy. (Picture book. 3-6)

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July 1, 2019
A peppy little skid steer called Kid McGear joins the Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site creators’ crew, but while their welcome is cordial, the five trucks underestimate Kid’s size and strength. Crane Truck says, “You don’t look quite strong enough/ to jump in here and do your share.../ maybe... just stay over there?” Kid doesn’t stew or pout—readers will get a strong sense that she knows her worth—and when Bulldozer and Excavator become trapped at the bottom of a steep hill, she’s first on the scene, engineering a solution and directing the collaborative rescue effort, all while making the most of her nimbleness and compact size. With Bulldozer and Excavator safely extracted, the construction crew now numbers six—“each one greater than they seem,/ because they’re working as a team.” The rescue effort can be difficult to follow, but fans of power drivers and grapple hooks will be delighted by this adventure, and readers of the previous books will find lots of reassuring familiarity, from the radiant orange and yellow palette to the trucks’ expressive faces. Ages 3–5.