Backhoe Joe

by Lori Alexander, Craig Cameron (Illustrator)

Nolan's always wanted his own backhoe! So when he finds a stray backhoe in the street, he can't wait to adopt it. But this backhoe is not very well behaved. As Nolan tries to train his new pet, he learns that maybe this backhoe already has a home.

This delightful story of a boy and his construction vehicle is brought to life with Craig Cameron's vibrant illustrations, making this the perfect addition to every young reader's library.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Construction, Storytime, Transport, Humor, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 16, 2014

About the author

Lori Alexander loves to read and write! She has written picture books like BACKHOE JOE (Harper, 2014) and FAMOUSLY PHOEBE (Sterling, 2017) as well as the FUTURE BABY board book series (Scholastic, 2019). She also writes non-fiction chapter books, such as ALL IN A DROP (2019) and A SPORTING CHANCE (2020), both from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Lori resides in sunny Tucson, Arizona, with her scientist husband and two book loving kids. She runs when it’s cool and swims when it’s hot. Then she gets back to reading and writing.

Visit Lori at www.lorialexanderbooks.com or on Twitter @LoriJAlexander

Reviews

[Margaret Chind · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Juvenile Fiction / Transportation / General
Ages 4 to 8, Grades P to 3
Pages: 40 Jacketed Hardcover 10x10"
Date Published:
Publisher: Harper

This is cute! I am only just starting to look into and understand the thrill of transportation themes for little boys. (Yet my girls do live Thomas and enjoy Bob the Builder from time to time...) With a new son I'm on the look out for some more diggers and such, because while we already like them books like Backhoe Joe can help us love them!

Craig Cameron's illustrations are adorable and I'm definitely a fan. Lori Alexander's text is good and fun. Pets are always an entertaining theme for kids to read about. But what if that pet was a lost construction tool? I mean seriously who hasn't seen that equipment left in a job and wondered what it would be like to take it home... But that backhoe already has a home. This is a fun one about pets, but about diggers too.

I received this product free for the purpose of reviewing it. I received no other compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my personal, honest opinions. Your experience may vary. Please read my full disclosure policy for more details.

Added: Found coloring sheets and teacher's guide!!! http://www.lorialexanderbooks.com/BOO...

posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2...

[Romelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Backhoe Joe is a brilliant mash-up of a construction vehicle and pet story. These are the very 2 topics that young kids love to read about. Original and clever by debut author, Lori Alexander. I love the idea of finding a stray backhoe vehicle and keeping it as a pet. The story touches upon authentic emotions and responsibilities associated with a pet that kids can relate to. Full of fun and humor with a great twist in the end. Backhoe Joe will tickle the imagination of young readers.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book for truck lovers. My kids (girl and boy) love this book. My daughter loves pets and got a kick out of the lost dog story, and my son is crazy for construction vehicles. My son (4) slept with the book for the first three nights that we read it. This book is one of the best construction books we’ve read in years.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun and unique story about a boy and a "pet" backhoe who follows him home one day. Although it is not a typical kind of pet, this book teaches the responsibility required to own a pet of any kind and how much time and energy it requires. A good read, especially for children who like big construction vehicles.

[Rachel K · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute little book about a backhoe that is essentially a pet dog for a boy. the art is ok, and the story isnt too long. I enjoyed the ending where he gets a pet that is..not a cat.

[Mama Bearian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nolan has always wanted a pet backhoe, so when he finds a stray one, he can't help but bring it home. But backhoe is badly behaved; he buries his cone in the flower bed and leaks on the driveway. Nolan is determined to train him, so they find a place that Joe can dig without worry. Nolan is thrilled, until he finds a lost backhoe sign. It can't be his backhoe, can it?

Joe the Backhoe is talked about and described exactly like a dog would be, and no one, not even the parents, act as if it is strange to have a pet construction vehicle. I thought that made it even better. The ending, too, is just right.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nolan finds a stray backhoe, names him Joe and takes him home. His parents are hesitant to let Nolan keep the backhoe because it isn't trained. Nolan begins to train him and eventually finds a great place for Joe to dig. But on the way home Nolan notices a sign for a lost backhoe.

Nolan does the right thing and returns Joe to his rightful owner. His parents decide that his good decisions show that he is ready for a pet of his own. Nolan agrees. Although he wants something a bit less active; something that purrs. Like a... cement mixer!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The timeless tail of a boy who finds a stray backhoe and brings it home. His parents are uncertain, telling him that having a backhoe of their very own is a lot of work, and the boy finds out it's true. After all, backhoes need a lot of space to dig. Eventually, they discover that the backhoe's owner is looking for him and the boy sends him home, but is able to visit, and contemplates getting his own pet.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story that has been told many times before. Kid brings home stray dog, pet frog, neighbor, elephant etc. and wants to keep it. This time it's a Backhoe that little Nolan wants to keep. They have adventures together, until Nolan realized that Backhoe Joe is a bit homesick. A fun read, and Backhoe is cute enough that I'd consider keeping him myself.

[Tamera Norwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does Nolan bring a puppy home? You have to turn the page to see what followed him home. This book is sweet, funny and very original. A really good choice for young children who love animals and trucks.

[Anthony · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nolan finds a stray backhoe, and names him Joe, but soon discovers that Joe is lost, and returns him to his rightful owner.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cute story is written as if the backhoe were a stray dog found by a little boy. Funny with great illustrations.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute preschool and up book where a boy adopts a backhoe as his pet and must learn to care for it.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Kelsey Doll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Witty book about a boy who brings home a pet backhoe. Reminds me of Dinotrux

[Jennifer Heise · Rating 4 out of 5]

My six year old refused to allow me to read this to him (I think he's outgrowing trucks anyway), so you'll have to settle for my review. I found it charming; anyone who has ever wanted a backhoe of their very own (or any truck-loving dog-wanter) will sympathize with Nolan, who brings home a stray backhoe he finds wandering loose in the road. However, backhoes are hard to keep in the house-- this one digs up flowerbeds, dumps dirt inappropriately, etc. And it becomes obvious that the backhoe, who Nolan names "Joe," is pining for those he ran away from. Eventually, Joe and Nolan stumble on the construction site he came from, and Nolan bids Joe a fond goodbye. Nolan's parents are ready, having watched him care for Joe, to consider a pet for him... but the one he brings home at the end of the book is perhaps not the best choice!

Should be a hit with Truck fans from, say, 3 to 5, fans of DinoTrucks, and those with a predeliction for stories about adopting dinosaurs (such as The Day Dinosaurs came with Everything.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the illustrations and it is an unexpected storyline. A Backhoe as a pet, who buries his cone (instead of a bone) in the flower bed and leaks in the driveway. It seems to be a play on a pet dog and what you might encounter if you found a missing one and wanted to keep it but know it needs to go back to its owner. My construction loving 3 year old loved it and I laughed out loud at the last page. Very cute book.

[Elle Markov · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was imaginative and creative, it follows little Nolan who learns that having a pet, even if it's a backhoe, is a lot more work than he thought.

So come and have a little fun with Nolan and his new backhoe, Joe.

Rating 4 out of 5
Read@Book

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy becomes friends with a stray backhoe. A plot only a 2 year old could relate to. The pictures are well drawn and I'm not sick of reading the story. Enough sound words that my son can also read most pages to himself.

[Ima Reeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not just for boys! I loved it - my kids loved it, and I have two girls. Backhoe Joe is such a cute construction book, deftly explaining the perils of pet ownership in a sweet but silly manner. The ending was a nice little twist too!

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the large type in the text and the colorful pictures by Craig Cameron. Seems like a fun idea for a boy to have a pet backhoe and later an even better big machine. Kindergarteners love this and the boys like it the most.

[Elizabeth S · Rating 5 out of 5]

What could be cuter than a boy with a backhoe for a pet? The question is, of course, rhetorical, since nothing could possibly be cuter. :)

[Afriendlylibrarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story about a boy and his pet backhoe, Joe. Yep, a boy with a pet truck that behaves like a naughty dog.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute twist on a "stray pet" story with an ending you may not see coming.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A boy and his backhoe. Good for construction equipment enthusiasts.

[Cemeread · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nolan finds a lost backhoe and treats it like a pet. When he sees a notice for a lost backhoe he must decide what to do.

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story of a boy who finds a lost backhoe and adopts him as a pet.

[pati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute storyline - I was really hoping that Nolen would go with a cat, but a cement mixer will do too!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but maybe a bit too cutesy for me. H likes it though so I'm sure we'll read it about 3 million times before it's due at the library.