Review by Booklist Review
A flatbed arrives at a construction yard and unloads a tiny but talented truck: Clean and shiny, all brand-new, / with lots of cool attachments, too! Eager to help, she introduces herself as Kid McGear and asks to be put to work. The five original trucks ask her to move aside while they get a big job done, and she complies. But when Excavator and Bulldozer slide down a steep hillside and get stuck, the new truck quickly devises a plan and goes into action, calling on Dump Truck, Crane, and Cement Mixer to help extricate their old pals. Success! While the story's closing line celebrates teamwork, this satisfying tale, told in verse couplets, also taps into the basic fact that every little kid wants the respect of the big kids. Ford, who also illustrated Construction Site on Christmas Night (2018) for Rinker's popular Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site series, offers lively, detailed scenes featuring these expressive mechanical characters. A crowd-pleasing picture book for truck fans.--Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2019 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
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. (Sept.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
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
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
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) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
