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