Poetry Friday--Builder Goose

I've always thought that if I could write a book about construction equipment, I would be guaranteed to sell it. Books on construction equipment, especially trucks, are always in high demand in our children's room. The sticking point however, is to make it good and something that's not going to make a mother groan when her little one asks to be read it again...and again...and again.

If you're looking for something new in the way of construction equipment books, you may want to try Builder Goose.

Builder Goose: It's Construction Rhyme Time! by Boni Ashburn, illustrated by Sergio de Giori [JP ASH], is a new addition to our picture book section. It's also a different way of approaching construction equipment--through rhymes. The rhymes are based on traditional nursery rhymes or songs. This can actually can get in the way if the reader is too familiar with the original. And, some of the entries are an example of "trying too hard" to make the rhyme fit, but, overall, the collection should be a welcomed change for those tasked with reading to little boys. (Not to be sexist, but in all my years, I've never had a girl ask me for a truck book! A girl however, might enjoy this one!)

Here's an example of a rhyme that I think works well:

It's Spinning, It's Roaring!

It's spinning, it's roaring!
It's mixing the flooring.
It tumbles around,
puts a chute to the ground,
and then it starts a-pouring.

Without the illustrations were you able to guess it's a cement mixer?

Chug on over to TeacherDance for this week's Poetry Friday Round-Up.