Cranky Makes a Friend

PreS-Gr 1–A second book about Cranky the crane. Cranky’s day starts out surprisingly un-cranky. He’s had his favorite breakfast, which included a glass of orange juice. All his gears were running smoothly, and he was ready for a good day at Sandbox Hills. Cranky’s un-cranky morning soon changes when he meets Lefty, a new kid at the site. Lefty is also a crane. It is Cranky’s job to show Lefty how cranes work with everyone to get the job done. Cranky is a right crane and Lefty is a left crane. Cranky is well, cranky, but Lefty is a big admirer of Cranky, and a big talker who tells jokes that the other trucks on the construction site find hilarious. Cranky is not a fan of Lefty. He doesn’t think his jokes are funny, and he doesn’t like how the other trucks like Lefty. Cranky smiles and tries to tell a joke. It doesn’t work. When his friends ask him if he is okay, he shares that he is concerned that they like Lefty more than him. This book charmingly addresses how new people and situations can be difficult to navigate, especially when it makes children--or anyone--feel left out and overlooked. The author makes clear that even changes in the daily routine can also cause stress and insecurities.