An early elementary-level STEM introduction to the backhoe, covering how the construction vehicle looks and works. Includes a glossary, further resources, and a labeled image guide to the digging machine’s major parts.
Part of the Seedlings series
Fans of big machines can head to construction sites and a warehouse with the Seedlings: Hello, Vehicles series. These titles offer a step up from simple vehicle identification, providing young gearheads with information on the jobs specific machines are used for and the specialized features of this equipment, the latter always recapped in a crisp, two-page, photographic diagram that clearly labels key parts of the featured vehicle. The main text is organized into double-page spreads, each largely (if not entirely) occupied by an excellent photo of a vehicle at work, often with an additional zoomed-in picture highlighting a specific detail referenced in the text. The writing employs short sentences with a nice degree of word repetition printed in a large font, with vocabulary terms set off in a bright color. Backhoes cheerfully begins with "Time to dig!" and shows readers the different uses for the backhoe's front and rear buckets. Heavy, wet concrete gets tumbled in a drum and poured down the truck's chute in Concrete Mixer. In Forklifts, pallets, barrels, and even people get a boost from this small but mighty warehouse vehicle. Wheel Loaders rumbles with the power contained by this big machine, whose huge, wide tires help it move heavy loads with its front attachment (a bucket, broom, rake, or fork). A solid and appealing series.
–Julia Smith, Booklist, 02/01/2024
Beautifully illustrated with full color photography, all four of these new Seedling titles from Creative Education feature a glossary, a section devoted to further resources, and a labeled image guide featuring major parts from arms to wheels. "Wheel Loaders", "Forklifts", Backhoes" and "Concrete Mixers" are especially and unreservedly recommended for daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that all four of these titles are also readily available in a paperback edition.
–Midwest Book Review, 02/18/2024
Truck mavens will be in heaven. Each volume opens with a cheery invitation: “Time to dig/lift!” The final page sums up the truck’s daily job with a similarly jovial message: “All done digging/lifting!” In the pages between, readers are welcomed in with clear and simply written sentences explaining the trucks’ functions, how they work, and their various parts. Unfamiliar terms appear in contrasting type and are defined in the glossary without pronunciation guides. Large type and plenty of white space make for easy, comfortable reading. Clear and colorful action photos of the vehicles doing their jobs will keep young learners enthralled. Sometimes insets are placed within larger photos to clarify meaning and to highlight less visible parts of the trucks. Drivers—all male—occasionally appear in photos, mostly from a distance. Back matter includes an index and a glossary, a labeled diagram of the vehicle, and additional resources. VERDICT This easy, fun series is sure to be appreciated by truck/vehicle lovers, and serves as an introduction to the world of work.
–School Library Journal, 04/01/2024
Truck and vehicle lovers will be in heaven over The Creative Company’s “Seedlings” series that covers an assortment of familiar and popular “fix-it” vehicles commonly seen in communities.
–School Library Journal, 04/01/2024