Tag: bulldozer

Bedtime For Little Bulldozer (Elise Broach)

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Hello, friends! Our book for today is Bedtime For Little Bulldozer, written by Elise Broach and illustrated by Barry E. Jackson, a familiar bedtime tale with an oddball twist.

Little Bulldozer – a slightly scaled-down bulldozer with human parents – is ready for bedtime. He’s had his hugs, his bath, brushed his teeth, and is all snuggled into bed. Just one problem – he’s not in the least bit tired! He tries a few different methods of getting to sleep: checking under his bed (and accidentally knocking it over), assembling his stuffed animals for an impromptu storytime, even attempting to sneak downstairs. Each time, his parents catch him and attempt to settle him back down, but sleep eludes him still. At last, he decides to sneak down the hall to his sisters’ room; there, no longer alone, he is able to build a nest on the floor and go to sleep.

This hits some pretty tried and true beats for a “going to bed” book, and in a way that is creative for young readers and laughably familiar for parents. And while parents may question how two humans managed to have three construction vehicles as kids (Bulldozer’s sisters are an excavator and a steamroller), kids will likely just giggle at the absurdity of the situation and of Bulldozer’s antics. The soft-focus, dreamlike quality of the art makes it perfect for a bedtime book, and nicely imagines how a bulldozer might fit into human life. The length is great, and JJ enjoyed it – this one was fun. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Race Car Dreams & Bulldozer Dreams (Sharon Chriscoe)

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Hello, friends! Our books today are Race Car Dreams and Bulldozer Dreams, written by Sharon Chriscoe and illustrated by Dave Mottram and John Joven, respectively.

Both stories follow the same beats: after a long and fun-filled day, the titular vehicle readies for bed, getting cleaned up, having a yummy meal, reading a book, then snuggling in for a good night’s sleep. After falling asleep, we follow each to dreamland to see what little vehicles dream of as they rest up for the next big day.

Very cute. “Getting ready for bed” books can often seem like a dime a dozen, and while they often employ a theme or gimmick, it has to be a good one to stand out. While I was a little surprised that the stories were so similar for both books, I understand the appeal: some kids like race cars, and some like construction vehicles. Beyond that, it’s the bouncy rhyming text and warm, cheerful illustrations that give these books their charm, and both have it in spades. From details like the race car snuggling his wrench for bed, the bulldozer dreaming of building a playground for smiling children, down to the living objects that populate their worlds, there’s a wealth of fun to be had for little bookworms who love things that go. The length of both is perfect for a bedtime story, and JJ (who is not normally a big vehicle enthusiast) really loved these and smiled from ear to ear as we read. Adorable bedtime fun, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved.

(Note: A copy of both books were provided to The Baby Bookworm by the author in exchange for an honest review.)