Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site

June 13, 2011
A noisy construction site may be an unorthodox setting for a bedtime story, but newcomer Rinker and Lichtenheld (Shark vs. Train) tie together the dual themes neatly. Though more subdued than the trucks that drive Kate and Jim McMullanâs I Stink! and Iâm Dirty!, these anthropomorphized vehicles have a similar graphic feel and cheerful demeanor. After five machines are first pictured hard at work, they appear against a blazing sky: âThe sun has set, the work is done;/ Itâs time for trucks to end their fun./ So one by one theyâll go to bed/ To yawn and rest their sleepy heads,/ Then wake up to another day/ Of rough-and-tough construction play!â Each truck performs one final task before settling down to sleep, with gentle encouragement: âShh... goodnight, Bulldozer, goodnight.â Rinkerâs rhythmic verse reinforces the vehiclesâ love of their work (Dump Truck âmoves the dirt/ from place to place,/ Then dumps it with a happy faceâ) and, like Lichtenheldâs art, deftly balances the storyâs boisterous and drowsy elements. Truck lovers will happily nod off to the strains of this read-aloud. Ages 4â8.

July 31, 2017
This polished spin-off of Rinker and Lichtenheld’s bestselling Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site features graduated pages shaped like five construction vehicles. Rinker’s sturdy rhymes touch on how the vehicles operate (“Bulldozer pushes on his thick, strong tread./ Mighty Dump Truck hauls dirt in his bed”), and small labels on each illustration point out their pertinent tools and gear (outrigger, scoop, canopy, etc.). Though the emphasis is on hard work, the static profile views of the vehicles and the dark blue backdrops against which they are set play right into the soothing bedtime theme of the book’s final pages. Up to age 3. Agent: Amy Rennert, Amy Rennert Agency.

Starred review from July 1, 2011

K-Gr 1-After each truck completes its work for the day, it cuddles up and says goodnight. Crane Truck raises one last beam and then hugs his teddy and turns on his nightlight. Cement Mixer gives a final spin before snuggling with his blanket. Dump Truck delivers his last load, closes his eyes, and starts to snore. Bulldozer and Excavator follow suit until the entire construction site is tucked in tight. Lichtenheld's detailed and textured illustrations, rendered in wax oil pastels on vellum paper, perfectly complement the fun, rhyming text, cleverly personifying each truck with expressive eyes and amusing details. The bright, golden background changes to pinkish red as the Sun begins to set and then to dark blue when the Moon appears. The repeated refrain, "Shh... goodnight, Crane Truck [Cement Mixer, Dump Truck, Bulldozer, Excavator], goodnight," will invite participation. Recommended for vehicle -and bedtime-themed storytimes, this is sure to be a hit with truck-loving preschoolers.-Rachel Kamin, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, Highland Park, IL

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2011
It's getting late at the construction site. One by one, the big trucks are preparing for bed. Soothing verse describes each vehicle's last task and special wind-down routine, ending with a personal message: "Shh...goodnight, Cement Mixer, goodnight." Bright-in-the-night yellows, blues, and reds dominate the thoughtfully crafted illustrations. Truck-loving kids will respond to this take on settling down to sleep.

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from September 1, 2011
Preschool-K *Starred Review* To say that a book makes you yawnwell, it's usually not a compliment. But in the case of bedtime books, it's high praise and well deserved by this engaging picture book. As the sun sets on a construction site, five big, tough trucks settle in for the night. After placing one last beam, hardworking Crane Truck folds his boom, grins sleepily, and tucks himself in for the night. Cement Mixer takes a bath before pulling up his chute and beginning to dream. Tired Dump Truck dims his lights and (loudly) snores. Nearby, sleepy Bulldozer curls up in his soft dirt bed, while Excavator sets down his scoop and falls asleep. Rinker writes her first book in rhyming, rhythmic verses that read aloud well. Deceptively simple, they manage to be simultaneously absorbing and soporific. Lichtenheld, who illustrated Duck! Rabbit! (2009) and Shark vs. Train (2010), contributes dynamic oil-pastel illustrations ranging from comical close-ups of anthropomorphic trucks to lyrical scenes of the construction site and city skyline at dusk. With strong lines and effective use of shading, the scenes offer plenty of visual details for children to discover. Even the endpapers combine beautiful design with stealthy wit. A standout picture book, especially for those who like wheels with their dreams.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)