Tools Rule!

by Aaron Meshon

Calling all tools to the workbench! Aaron Meshon’s follow-up to Take Me Out to the Yakyu, which The New York Times Book Review calls “a definite home run,” hits the nail on the head.In a messy yard, a busy day begins for a team of tools. With a click, click and a bang! bang!, everyone from Wrench, Hammer, and Screwdriver right down to Nuts and Bolts is pitching in to make a shed. Okay, crew! Who’s ready to build? From “hammer” and “wrench” to “awl” and “vise,” readers will construct a vocabulary of terrific tool terms as they learn the importance of teamwork.

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

40 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 25, 2014

Reviews

[Alena Medae]

Tools Rule is about a group of tools in a friendly backyard working together to build a shed. The tools are animated and life-like so no humans are in the story. Together, tools like a hammer, saw, and wrench work together to build a tool shed all around their friend the workbench. When it is completed a paintbrush paints it blue. At the end of the story all the tools fall asleep from working so hard.

I thought this story was very cute but could be made better by human involvement. I do think little boys will love the fact tools are alive in this story. The colors are so vivid and bright. The tools have a sense of humor which is nice. The words are all in dialogue bubbles and in various sizes which is a bit hard to follow.

I would keep a book like this in my classroom library. I do think some students would connect with it possibly from love of fixing things or the faces on the tools. It could teach students about teamwork which is a great reason to share it and talk about this story in class.

[Laila · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son LOVES tools. (His dad is pretty handy.) This is a brightly illustrated book about the value of teamwork. Cute puns too (The vice says, "My advice? We need to get a grip on things.")

[Bailey Douglas · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book about various tools who work together to build a shed. Each page labels tools and describes their functions. This is a great way for students to learn about each tool and what they do. I love the illustrations- they are so colorful and vibrant. This book also has many sounds that each tool makes written down, which would be great for a lesson on onomatopoeia. This was not my favorite book. I thought there could've been a little more description in the tools, but I still think it could be useful in maybe a pre-k or kindergarten classroom.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Teddy is very interested in tools, building, construction, etc, and he's endlessly fascinated by this book. The illustrations have a lot of detail and a huge variety of tools that he can pick out and name. Beyond that it's ... just whatever. It's not a pleasant read aloud, with a super uneven tone and rhyme scheme and a story that barely stories, so we usually skip/modify most of the words and just talk about the pictures! So it's a 1-star from me and a 5-star from Teddy: we're landing on 3.

[Erica Flory · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

read to my grandson - a delightful personification of some unruly tools.


[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four and a half stars.
Charming, brightly colored comic book style illustrations tell the story of a group of animated tools that work together to build a toolshed. There are lots of puns and wordplay-the vise suggests getting a 'grip on things' to which the notepad responds 'Write on!' Balancing the goofy humor is the comfort of the straight forward, step by step, process of careful building and the satisfaction of seeing the messy yard scattered with tools transformed into an organized shed with a place for everything. Lots of labeling and building vignettes help teach the names and functions of a wide range of tools.

[Kalynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a cute story where the tools are the main characters! I can just picture the PreK-1st grade students really loving this story's cartoon-like illustrations, while raising their hands to tell you which ones they have seen at their house. :-) Using a combination of onomatopoeia and figurative language, this book would really excel as a read aloud, so the facilitator can seize those language based and science based teachable moments. This story would also connect well with student story telling, students sharing their unique background knowledge, and students using their knowledges in the classroom for a STEM lesson partnered with oral language and writing development.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was cute and while I did read it for storytime I do kind of think there might have been too much going on for them to keep focused. It was great to show how they work together, but for the age it seems geared toward there might have been too many "advanced" tools and too many speech bubbles. It's like a cross between a comic and a picture book, but not really one or the other. It was definitely a great read, and would probably be great to read together one on one so the adult can point out special tools and hopefully explain what they are.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty cute...a bunch of tools with adorable faces decide that they need to build a shed to keep themselves in so they're not always scattered around in the backyard.

I found it more interesting to read this book if you imagine it takes place in a world where everyday items have gained sentience and killed all the humans, and are now trying to figure out how to manage their new-found independence. The perpetual grins on all the formerly inanimate objects in the backyard becomes much more sinister when you imagine that the inside of the house is covered in blood and dead bodies.

[Kate McGinty aka Caryn Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The backyard is a mess, so all the different tools get together to build a shed. Once they're protected and organized inside their new shelter, they can finally sleep peacefully.

Tools Rule! touches on teamwork and the importance of organizing one's workspace, while introducing a number of tools by name and showing them in use. Action, wordplay, and colorful illustrations add to the interest.

[Marfita · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the DIY lover in your house. I can think of at least one kid here at the library that would adore this.
There isn't much plot, but the illustrations are cute. Far and away the best part for me was the author's description of his materials, or "tools." Be sure you read the whole book, even that seemingly boring publication information, or you might miss something very interesting!
The tools need a place to lay their head at night, so they club together to build a shed around the workbench.

[Mary]

This is a fun and interactive book for ECE and early elementary readers who are interested in tools and building things. As I was reading it, I kept thinking of all of the things I could build and organize in my own home! There is a good deal of new vocabulary, fun characters, and excellent examples of teamwork.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tools are so disorganized in the backyard they can't even find each other. A few take charge and call everyone together. They decide to build a shed so they have somewhere to stay all together. With team work and puns they build the perfect home around their big friend, the workbench. With rhymes and onomatopoeia a fun story is told that is sure to delight young carpenters everywhere!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of engaging illustrations and teaches young children about tools. What are tools? What do they look like? How do we use them? All of these questions are answered within the colorful cartoon illustrations of Aaron Meshon. This book is lively and engaging. I would love to use this in a preschool classroom.

[Jessica Haider · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son likes this because it's about tools and right now he thinks tools and "construction sites" are cool. The book also teaches a lesson about how keeping your tools organized is so much better than leaving them strewn all over the place. I can only hope that that lesson sinks in regarding keeping his toys cleaned up.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe that this book will have a niche audience among young boys who have a toy workbench. They will enjoy identifying the tools but will probably not catch the puns and wordplay, but maybe their parents, older siblings, or caretakers will! The story line is simple, and the pictures are very colorful. It will be a hit for many.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Many tools cooperate to build a tool shed. This will be part of a construction/tools storytime for preschoolers. Bright illustrations and wordplay will be a hit with my kiddos. I may omit some of the speech bubbles for prek, but they have a good attention span as long as the book is interesting.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Age: Preschool-Kindergarten

Tool enthusiasts will love this and can enjoy this picture book for several reads given its detail and variety of tools. Beyond those construction and tool lovers, though? Not so much.

[Alix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun illustrations, and a cool concept. I bet this one will be popular with the boys. I don't think I would use this in storytime, as its a bit long and doesn't have a strong story plot... but it would be a fun book to read one on one.

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, simple illustrations show the name and basic functions of many basic tools. Illustrator sometimes went overboard with the number of things he gave a face. Puts little emphasis on proper care of tools (you left the paint brushes in paint overnight?!), but it is just a children's book.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was funnier for a grown-up to read than it was for children who didn't get all the puns. Clever and witty, quirky bright illustrations... but I feel like it's missing its audience somehow. It will be fun for kids whose dads work in their shops or for those who are handy types.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the tools are laying around everywhere! They work together to get organized and build a tool shed. Once they all have a place and everything is straight, the tools all get some rest.

Cute low-level reader that introduces many tools with beautiful illustrations.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young children will enjoy this one and how the tools work together to build a shed to organize all of the pieces.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A backyard full of anthropomorphized tools organize themselves to engage in some colorful construction. Great preschool book.

[Peacegal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inanimate objects with faces are the best!

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sure tool enthusiasts will like this one, but it was a little too frenetic for me. Cute use of puns and onomatopoeia though.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where are the tools disorganized and lying in the backyard. The tools build themselves a tool shed and become organized. Fun book for the budding builder be it boy or girl.

[Donalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A disorganized pile of tools join forces to build themselves a shed to call home. A playful introduction to tools and their uses with wordplay and bold illustrations.

[Monica Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young builders will be delighted. Through teamwork anything can get done!