Bob the Builder: Big Build Collection (2009)

Editorial Reviews

Can he build it? Yes he can! In this special DVD collection, watch how Bob's little dream of becoming a builder comes true in a BIG way! "When Bob Became a Builder" shows how the Can-Do Crew started. Join Bob, his Dad, Robert and Wendy as they take on a construction project for the very first time. Then Bob learns the true spirit of teamwork in "Bob's Top Team" as he assembles the best builders to construct a new school and visitor center. And in his largest project yet, "Bob's Big Plan," Bob is challenged to create a blueprint unlike anything seen before! So break out your tools and get ready for some building action, and remember: having fun is getting it done!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Deal! February 3, 2009

By C. Hunt

Amazon Verified Purchase

This collection was the best deal ever! For only about $4 more than the cost of the toy scoop that comes with it, you get 3 Bob DVDs. They are all great stories that my two boys love, and they got a scoop toy which is hard to find anyway! It's just a great deal, that I highly reccomend.

www.Hypersmash.com

Bob the Builder: On Site - Skyscrapers (2009)

Product Description

Bob is back in an-all new construction adventure to teach the art of building skyscrapers. Along with Tumbler, Dizzy, Lofty and Flex, Bob is always ready to tackle even the tallest projects. No problem is too high to solve when you have positive-thinking and teamwork. In this exciting mix of animation and live action, you'll find yourself on top of the world!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Review from www.firrkids.com March 29, 2009

By www.firrkids.com

Format:DVD

The On Site series is my absolute favorite type of Bob the Builder episode. Viewers are made to feel like they are part of an actual construction crew - watching workers build and getting a sneak peek inside the job site. Interspersed with the usual animation, this is a great video for kids of all ages. The dual imagery makes these videos equally educational and fascinating.

We learn about the construction process on two types of buildings: a skyscraper and a parking garage. Bob starts right at the beginning by drafting the blueprints and laying the foundation, then onto finishing the top-most floor and installing the elevator system. We see the contractor's view on each step of the huge process that becomes a skyscraper.

As an added bonus, there is footage of children building their own construction projects from cardboard boxes and craft supplies. What a great (not to mention cheap) project to try with your own children after the video! They can combine their imaginations with what they learned from Bob and his crew and to create their own unique buildings.

Skyscrapers breaks down the building process into engaging, easy-to-follow stages, incorporating Bob the Builder's delightful animation and charming characters, along with live action construction site footage. The sky has no limit in this latest title from everyone's favorite builder!

Bob the Builder: On-Site - Roads and Bridges

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun, but could've been better February 9, 2008

By J. Kirby

Format:DVD

Picked this video up at the library right after it was released. My 3-yr old was very entertained by the new Bob segments as well as the live action of the construction sites. Only downsides would be that the Bob segments are limited to Roley and a brief piece with Lofty talking with Bob. Several other members of Bob's team are in the video, but none of them talk, as if the video were made on a limited budget for royalty payments and none of the other character's voice actors were on the payroll for this one. Lots of the animated portion is just a re-hash of scenes from old Bob episodes. Also, the disk case shows a Sneak Peak teaser for some new Bob machines, but the video never plays it. The main menu has no option for it and the AutoPlay function at the start of the video, while mentioning bonus features follow the main video, never plays anything after the feature video is done. It just returns to the Main Menu again and that's it. This caused some toddler questions of "Where is the new part" repeatedly when the Sneak Peak didn't play.

Overall, it was entertaining for him, since it was different than normal with the live action interaction, but from a parents point of view, this is a low-cost filler for Bob the Builder video until new real episodes come out on DVD.

Road Builders [Paperback]

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1996

Now being re-issued in hardcover, "Road Builders, is the perfect book for any child who can't get enough of trucks or construction. With Caldecott Medal-winner Simms Taback's bright and engaging illustrations and a fun and straightforward text by B. G. Hennessy, this picture book will satisfy even the most curious little minds.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

For children who are passionate about machines, especially the really big ones, Road Builders, cheerfully illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Simms Taback, is a wonderful find. Youngsters are introduced to the vast assortment of fascinating machines involved in building a road, and to the industrious crew of folks who operate these mammoth vehicles. Step by step, a road is born: dirt is scooped away by the power shovel, bulldozer, and backhoe, then the grader smoothes the ground as the other trucks arrive with cement and asphalt. Finally the power roller packs it all down, and the "striper" lays down the lines at the center of the road. But you'll have to read the book to figure out what the cherry picker does! Boldly illustrated with bright, saturated colors, Road Builders is a visually dynamic introduction to the people and machines that bring new roads to life. (Ages 2 to 6) --Marianne Painter --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

This soup-to-nuts explanation of how roads are constructed begins in an empty field and ends on a busy freeway, and it offers just the right amount of information for its intended audience. Readers watch as members of a road crew bulldoze, dig, dump, grade, pave, roll, paint, mark and light a new roadway--and then drive off into the sunset to their next job. Bolstered by Hennessy's ( Jake Baked the Cake ) concise text, Taback's ( On Our Way to the Forest! ) bold, attention-grabbing colors and oversized, up-close-and-personal illustrations are action-packed and will thrill young truck-lovers everywhere. It's a splendid introduction to a world that many children find riveting. Ages 2-7. Children's BOMC main selection.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Bob the Builder: On Site - Houses and Playgrounds

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for any youngster who has spent more than the minimum time playing with a Tonka truck. September 6, 2008

By Midwest Book Review

Format:DVD

Many a young child has developed a fondness for the massive machines that construct the world's buildings. "Bob the Builder On Site: Bob's World Meets the Real World - Houses & Playgrounds" takes the critically acclaimed Bob the Builder children's series as the characters go and show children how their homes are built and how the playgrounds they enjoy so much are constructed. Educational as it is entertaining for youngsters, "Bob the Builder On Site" is a must for any youngster who has spent more than the minimum time playing with a Tonka truck.

Demolition [Hardcover]

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Book Description

Publication Date: February 14, 2012 | Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

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.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "Bang! Clang! Crack!" April 28, 2012

By J. Prather TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Demolition is an excellent read aloud, perfect for preschoolers and toddlers who are obsessed with all things construction. The text is energetic and cram packed with lots of great sound effects such as "Thud! Creak! Wham!" or "Screech! Scrunch! Rip!" Each two page spread features a different step in the demolition process, from "Grab your Gear, Grab your Gear", to "Ram the walls, Ram the walls", to "Load the trucks, Load the trucks" as the debris is carried off. All of this slam, bam destruction ends on a positive note as a playground is built on the demolition site. One page of machine facts, describing the functions of each machine shown in the story, wraps everything up into a really nice package.

In addition to all of those great sound words, each page rhymes seamlessly, creating a smooth read aloud flow. The illustrations are realistic and fairly detailed as far as the machines go. They are definitely the stars of this story! I liked how everything appears dusty, mottled and messy, just as you would imagine a real demolition site would be. Everything is still pretty colorful, sure to retain the interest of even the youngest story listener. This is an excellent choice for toddler or preschool story time or any young construction fan's personal collection.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Sutton’s rhythmic text, full of onomatopoeia and muscular action words, captures the excitement and energy of big trucks hard at work and powerful machinery bashing concrete and metal. Lovelock’s meticulous illustrations, rendered in pigmented ink, give the job site a suitably dusty patina and put the equipment and vehicles center stage, where young fans will want them...This is all about as good as it gets for truck-obsessed preschoolers.
—The Horn Book (starred review)

The text is rife with onomatopoeic phrases and action verbs, making it great for reading aloud and building vocabulary. Lovelock’s pigmented ink illustrations capture details about the machines–from treads to gears–in a style that is graphic and yet painterly. The geometric nature of the construction equipment offers another avenue for engaging children with the book.
—School Library Journal (starred review)

Smashing good fun for preschoolers of both genders.
—Kirkus Reviews

The Art of Construction: Projects and Principles for Beginning Engineers & Architects [Paperback]

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2000 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Projects and Principles

Students discover the basic principles necessary to build all types of structures used in everyday life including bridges, skyscrapers, and other architectural gems. Line art illustrations help to explain projects that demonstrate how these principles keep structures solid. Perfect for kids who wonder why, and love to figure things out! All projects are easily done with materials found around-the-house.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A top choice for serious architecture students."  —School Library Journal

"An extraordinary book." —Chicago Tribune

"Loaded with projects, this book introduces maturing minds to the principles that guide architects and engineers as they design and construct buildings and bridges."  —School Shop

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 60 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring January 16, 2005

By A. Patrick

Format:Paperback

A dear friend gave me this book for my ninth birthday back in 1990. Today, I am a structural engineering associate with a major forensic engineering firm, and I know that much of my fascination with the field began with Salvadori's riveting explanations of the basic principles of structural design. This book is incredible for any kid with any scientific inclination!

The Toolbox [Board Book]

Book Description

Publication Date: October 3, 2006 | Age Level: 2 and up

Look inside this well-loved toolbox--there is so much to discover! It holds strong wrenches that turn, pliers that pinch, and sandpaper that smoothes. There are nails, screws, and a hammer. A toolbox is a treasure trove for curious young builders. When they're not running to explore their own tool collections, children will be glued to this book, exploring the shapes, names, and useful jobs of common hand tools. Anne and Harlow Rockwell's preschool classic, for the first time in board book format, still shines with a well-crafted simplicity that speaks to the desire young children feel to make something uniquely their own.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for My Little Handyman May 10, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

My four-year-old, a tool fanatic, loved this book. Simple illustrations and words label several tools from a boy's father's toolbox and clearly describe their basic uses. My son "reads" it over and over again.

 Love this book! April 16, 2012

By Mom of Four

Format:Board book|Amazon Verified Purchase

My 2 year old simply adores this book! He is obsessed with all things related to building and this book covers it! It's a fairly basic board book, but has pictures of all of the tools that he likes, so he's able to look at the pictures and memorize what each thing is. Very cute for a tool-obsessed toddler!

Amazing Buildings (DK Readers, Level 2) [Paperback

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2003 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: DK READERS

Have you ever heard of a hotel made of snow? How would you put a building in space? And who washes the windows on the tallest skyscrapers in the world? Find out about the world's most famous and unique structures, from the ancient Coliseum to eco-friendly stadiums and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book! June 24, 2008

By E. Gorden

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is a fantastic reader for kids (level 2) or for you to read with your 3-5 year old. It has great pictures of some beautiful buildings. It is a fun way to expose your kids to different countries' building from now and in history. Buildings include the Eiffel Tower, Colosseum, Sydney Opera House, etc. Interesting facts & tidbits! Buy it to read again and again.

The Three Little Pigs: An Architectural Tale [Hardcover]

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2010 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

In this quirky, artsy retelling of “The Three Little Pigs,” the pigs and their homes are nods to three famous architects—Frank Gehry, Phillip Johnson, and Frank Lloyd Wright—and their signature homes. Each house is filled with clever details, including furnishings by the architects and their contemporaries. Of course, not all the houses are going to protect the pigs from the wolf’s huffing and puffing. Which one will? The wolf, and readers, are in for a clever surprise ending.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

As in Goldilocks and the Three Bears: A Tale Moderne (2000), Guarnaccia combines a delightfully fractured fairy tale with an ultrastylish, kid-friendly primer of twentieth-century design. Here, each of the three little pigs is a porcine doppelgänger for a world-famous architect: Frank Gehry (who lives in a house of scraps), Philip Johnson (whose house is glass), and Frank Lloyd Wright, whose sturdy, brick Fallingwater becomes the pigs' refuge from the wolf. The story works without the sophisticated references, but the endpapers, printed with design icons featured on the pages, provide a fun, interactive game and will pique kids' interest in the subject. Grades K-3. --Gillian Engberg

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Cute for kids, just as good for hip adults May 21, 2010

By M. Knapp

Format:Hardcover

The playful illustrations in this charming rendition of the three little pigs (THE THREE LITTLE PIGS: AN ARCHITECTURAL TALE) will catch a child's eye, but the witty attention to detail will best be appreciated by older readers, who will get the artsy "in" jokes and references. The little piggies live in houses endearingly similar to Fallingwater or in the style of a porcine Frank Gehry. Guarnaccia's hip "biker dude" wolf is hard to dislike, despite his intent to huff and puff and otherwise get to those piggies. This book takes the most familiar version of the three little pigs a step further -- the wolf made plans to meet the little piggies here and there after his "blow your house down" adventures were over.

I think kids will enjoy sitting in laps, looking at the bright illustrations and having this story read to them. This would also make a great off-beat gift for design-oriented high school and college graduates, and those with interests in the arts, architecture, design, home interiors --anyone with a sense of style, who enjoys visual cool.

How a House Is Built [Paperback]

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

As readers quickly comprehend, building a house is a complex project requiring the cooperative efforts of many people. With her usual skill, Gibbons makes the process easy to understand. Beginning with the architect who draws the plans, readers meet the surveyors, equipment operators, carpenters, plumbers, and other people who produce a building. The book concludes with a family moving in, ready to make the house a home. Although children in some parts of the country will not relate specifically to houses with basements or septic systems, How a House Is Built provides basic, general information without oversimplifying. The illustrations are typical of Gibbons' style: bright colors, clean lines, and captions where necessary to define unfamiliar terms. Women are well represented in many non-traditional roles but not much racial diversity is shown. An appended page encourages comparison of modern frame houses to simple houses of the past. Building a House (Greenwillow, 1981) by Byron Barton offers less detailed information for younger children. --Jeanette Larson, Mesquite Pub . Lib . , TX
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for a family building a house! June 28, 1999

By kimbeach@cinci.infi.net

Format:Paperback

We bought this book because we wanted our children to know what to expect while we were building our first home. It was a great step by step guide of the building process with very colorful pictures. I would highly recommend it if you have young children!