Construction Cat

August 1, 2018
Construction Cat and her kitty-cat crew are on the job!"Construction Cat wakes up at dawn, // Grabs her boots and tugs them on, / Buckles tool belt, nice and snug, / Gives her family one more hug." She kisses her husband, who's making breakfast for their three kittens, and heads out in her blue pickup. At the job site, she reviews the plans, works a digger and a crane, and pours cement. "Lugging lumber, pounding nails, / Flicking sawdust from their tails," the construction team uses an array of tools, always taking care for safety. Then it's lunchtime, and there's a sweet note from home in Construction Cat's lunchbox. More work in the afternoon...and the project's done! It's a great play structure with a golden bell. A surprise visit from the family with a picnic dinner makes for "A purrrrfect day." Odanaka's rhyme is jaunty and pleasing, and the construction-equipment theme is a proven crowd-pleaser. The gender switch of the hard-hatted protagonist makes Construction Cat's tale an even more important addition to all collections. Hanson's digitally rendered cartoon cats in human clothes (but no hair beyond their fur and, blessedly, no extra eyelashes on Construction Cat) are the direct furry descendants of Margaret Wise Brown and Alice Provensen's Color Kittens.Solidly built for enjoyment by construction kids and feline friends alike. (Picture book. 2-7)

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