I Love Tools!

I Love . . . !

by Philemon Sturges, Shari Halpern (Illustrations)

Tools can cut things apart . . . . . . or put them back together again. You can use tools to make almost anything! From the clamps that hold down the wood for the very first cut through the paintbrush that adds the finishing touches, this book is full of useful tools! Young readers will love watching a busy family saw, hammer, and chisel as they work together to create a new home for their friend the bluebird.

Genres: Picture Books, Construction, Storytime, Childrens, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 23, 2006

About the author

Philemon Fowler Sturges III was an architect and author based in Rhode Island. He trained at Princeton University. He wrote children's books from 1995 until his death in 2005.

Reviews

[Morgan Stout · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple, but fun book for any young reader!

[Jada Curtis]

this book is a very educational book about tools, how they are use and their purposes. I think this is a great book for little boys to read who little to tinker around with building things. I think this would be a great book to read before you start project that require tools to be used to help put objects together. The book is about making a bird house with his family and he talks about all the tools that are used and their purpose.

[Anthony P · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book that would interest young children who like to watch building things. They might see the tools around the house where their dads might have some of these tools so it might interest them. This is also a fun book to read aloud because it does have big pictures. But it is also important to keep the tools safe so the young children would not be put in danger. Safety is always first!

[The Campbell Family · Rating 3 out of 5]

For much younger readers. It was too young for Adam (4).

[Jessalyn Plant · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great little book about tools. It is very fun to read through and watch as they work on their project. My toddler approved of this book 😝

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple text told in rhyme explaining the use of simple tools and how they work for a building project.

[Benjamin Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple text with clear illustrations that show the process of a family constructing a bird house. I like that all members of the family are depicted helping with the project.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colorful illustrations. Short, nice, to-the-point story.

[IrenesBookReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family decides to build something. You watch as they gather what they need and use the right tools for the right job. Great teamwork and family time. Pictures show the family building without giving away what the project is. The story ends with a completed birds nest. The explanation of how the tools were being used was informative without being boring! A fun book!

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great wondering and informational and new vocabulary book for young children. We wondered what they were using the tools to build? Ask your child to look the bird in each picture. I love Philemon Sturges!

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read at Toddler Lap Time on 5/2/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

Read at Baby Lap Time on 5/2/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

[Avonlea Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love that Sturges and Halpern include both male and female characters in this one, allowing both to use the tools. Introduces new vocabulary and exemplifies teamwork and family collaboration. Illustrations are perfectly suited for the preschool crowd. Both my daughter (3) and I liked this one.

[Kristie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inside cover stresses the names and definitions of different tools. Text is simple with pictures that support the phrases.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute simple story about building a birdhouse. Perfect for two-year-olds. I like that the author included the whole family (Mom, Dad, Sister and Brother) building the birdhouse together.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple, easy text and clear uncluttered pictures, make this a hit for toddlers and young preschoolers.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good for any little boy who wants to be like dad, or mom for that matter, and use power tools. Contains colorful, simple pictures and it's easy to understand. Good one for a three year-old.

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple story using tools. Rhyming text and bold outlined pictures. Nothing excellent, but a strong choice when learning about tools or for a toddler who loves tools.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This I read to my son! He loved it!

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an easy picture book for beginning readers. It offers a short text, but includes mathematical tools and explains what you can do with the tools. An enjoyable book!

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kids had fun "making" a bird house and "using" the tools.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family builds a bird house using many different tools. Simple words and illustrations make this great for toddler storytimes.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toddlerific book introducing lots of vocabulary of tools, alongside a very simple storyline. Can't wait to debut this in storytime!

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book for boys!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice, simple words for kids to read. An easy book that is short for younger kids to sit and listen to.

[Courtney Cottrell]

This book was a story of how a little boy uses all of his tools to make something beautiful. It goes through what each tool is used for and how it benefits the bird house that is eventually built.

I thought this book was great for younger elementary because it gives great visuals of different types of tools and what their functions are. It does a great job with rhyming in some areas and shows that it is important to use tools in order to build different things.

This book is great for a lower elementary classroom because many children may not even know what certain tools are and much less their function. It also give kids joy to know that they can make something just as beautiful as the little boys bird house.

[Nick So'oto · Rating 3 out of 5]

The children book, I Love Tools! written by Philemon Sturges, is a picture book about a little boy and his exploration of tools while building crafts with what looks to be his father. Throughout the book it takes you through a series of steps with numerous amounts of tools that at the end ultimately build a beautiful bird house for the little blue bird.

In my personal opinion, it was a quick read with very simple illustrations. But, the illustrations and colors are perfect for a younger child, specifically a boy who enjoys tools and building as many boys do at a young age. I thought that it was pretty cool that at the beginning of the book, even before you get to the first page there is a two page spread of a blueprint with the outlines of tools. Under each outline was the purpose of the tool, and sometimes a fun fact. I also loved the way the illustrator included shapes and colors, this made this book a most parents dream. A parent could easily sit down, read the book to their child and point out specific shapes and colors and teach them to their child. Overall, it was a quick read but I would definitely recommend this book to most parents and teachers with younger children.

I Love Tools! Would be a great book to teach shapes and colors to. In the book the illustrator incorporates simple and beginner shapes and colors, which would make it easy for young children who are just now starting to learn them. I could see myself most likely sitting everyone down, reading each page and after each page someone would be able to choose a shape off of the page I just read and tell what shape it was, and what color it was.