Machines at Work

These new books in the Machines at Work series are perfect for young children interested in trucks, construction equipment, and slightly more exotic vehicles. They feature bright, colorful photos and child-friendly text. Even the books themselves are a perfect size for young children’s hands. Some of the books engagingly tell the stories of particular workers using the featured piece of machinery. Bo picks up concrete at a plant and transports it to a job site to make a floor in Concrete Mixers. In Diggers, Ed makes a giant hole for a tall building with his digger, and Amy digs a big hole for a swimming pool with her backhoe. Some of the other books read as purely informational texts. Icebreakers describes how the icebreaker breaks through the ice to reach a stranded ship and oil tanker. Tugboats details situations in which tugboats push or pull other ships: through a narrow canal, to a dock, back to sea. A feature at the end labels the main parts of the machine. A picture glossary includes photos that are sufficient to illustrate very simple concepts (“earmuffs,” for example) but not more complex ones (such as “engine”). Still, children will be charmed by the books’ main text and photos.

These books incorporate brightly-colored page layouts, numerous photographs, separated text boxes, and photo labels to help engage and encourage young readers. Each book shows various ways the title machine works in a community. Each spread has very sparse text. Vocabulary is repetitive and approachable for beginning readers. Every book includes a “Parts of” the machine section which includes a photograph and colorful, descriptive labels. Also included in each title is a picture glossary and a “To Learn More” section that provides one website and a search term, helping early learners navigate the Internet quickly and safely. This series is recommended for primary nonfiction collections and for collections needing more basic titles.

Aimed at emerging readers, these simple introductions to vehicular uses and working parts each begin with useful suggestions for parents and teachers guiding students. Brief sentences (“The robber goes in the back seat. The doors have no handles. The robber can’t get out.”) and photographs will appeal to readers. Each book highlights the basics of the various vehicles, such as the siren, warning lights, radio, computer, and safety gear and first-aid kit in the big trunk of the police car. Most of the titles feature men and women. Some adults may not be comfortable discussing the war vehicles and their uses of guns, rockets, and missiles, but these books should have wide appeal to beginning readers.