Bulldozer's Big Day

On his "big day," Bulldozer can't wait to invite his friends to his party: "Guess what today is!" The other construction vehicles appear too preoccupied with work to guess. "No friends. No party," sniffs Bulldozer. Of course, there is a party; everyone's secretly been constructing a giant birthday cake. Engaging text will keep story-hour audiences invested; block-print illustrations feature trucks with loads of personality.

On his “big day,” Bulldozer practically flies across the construction site; he can’t wait to invite all his friends to his party. He starts with Digger: “Guess what today is!” But the big machine isn’t interested in guessing: “I don’t need to guess, kid. Today is a scooping day.” Dump Truck rumbles, Cement Mixer stirs, Scraper rattles, Grader clatters -- everyone appears too preoccupied with work to guess the answer to Bulldozer’s question. By the time he reaches Roller, Bulldozer has all but given up: “Do you care what today is?” he asks. “‘No,’ Roller grumbled.” Young story hour audiences will care, though, and Fleming’s simple and engaging text will keep them invested in the story’s outcome. Rohmann’s block-print illustrations feature solid-shaped trucks in crayon-bright colors with loads of personality. Bulldozer looks tiny in comparison to the massive vehicles that dominate the double-page spreads. With each disappointment, Bulldozer is less visible until we only see him from behind, his blade dragging sadly in the dirt. “‘No games.’ He sniffed. ‘No friends. No party.’” Of course, there is a party; everyone has secretly been working on constructing a giant birthday cake, which Crane hoists up, candles blazing. Birthday surprises, cake, and construction vehicles -- little bulldozers will lift their blades up high for this celebration. kitty flynn