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Construction Crew
Roadwork
Every preschooler who is mad for machines will revel in this bright, boisterous picture book about the exciting process of building a road.
"Load the dirt. Load the dirt. Scoop and swing and drop. Slam it down into the truck. Bump! Whump! Whop!"
There are many big machines and busy people involved in building a road, and this riveting picture book follows them every step of the way. From clearing a pathway (SCREEK!) to rolling the tar (SQUELCH!) to sweeping up at the end (SWISH!), ROADWORK is sure to draw young onlookers with its rambunctious rhymes and noisy fun.
"Load the dirt. Load the dirt. Scoop and swing and drop. Slam it down into the truck. Bump! Whump! Whop!"
There are many big machines and busy people involved in building a road, and this riveting picture book follows them every step of the way. From clearing a pathway (SCREEK!) to rolling the tar (SQUELCH!) to sweeping up at the end (SWISH!), ROADWORK is sure to draw young onlookers with its rambunctious rhymes and noisy fun.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published June 24, 2008
38 people are currently reading
550 people want to read
About the author
Sally Sutton
55 books28 followersSally Sutton is an Auckland playwright and children’s writer. Her first picture book, "Crazy Kiwi Tops and Tails", was published by Penguin in 2006. "Roadworks" will be her third picture book. She lives in the bush-clad suburb of Birkenhead with her husband and children
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
December 10, 2012
My nephew Angus, who is about 6 months older than my own boy, loves this book, and I got him the next one in the series,
Demolition
, for his 2nd birthday on the 28th of December. I hadn't heard of the books or Sally Sutton until my sister told me about them, but I thought, if Angus loves this book, it must be good.
True to form, when it arrived in the mail and we opened the parcel and got it out last Thursday (6th December), I had to read it four times in a row - and many times since!
Each double-page spread tells a stage in the building of a road, from surveying and marking it out with pegs, to clearing the ground, moving rocks and earth around, spreading tar, putting up street lights, signs and even breaking for lunch! The text is a four-line verse ending in onomatopeias - for example, on the first page:
The illustrations by Brian Lovelock are great too, simple and straight-forward yet with some nicely-placed details that has the kids asking lots of "what's that?" questions. They already seem fascinated watching the progress of the new road, though how much they really get is hard to say. What's great is that it goes well with another new addition to the picture book library, On the Move, which shows photos of excavators, dump trucks, cement mixers and loads more (another book they're currently addicted to).
True to form, when it arrived in the mail and we opened the parcel and got it out last Thursday (6th December), I had to read it four times in a row - and many times since!
Each double-page spread tells a stage in the building of a road, from surveying and marking it out with pegs, to clearing the ground, moving rocks and earth around, spreading tar, putting up street lights, signs and even breaking for lunch! The text is a four-line verse ending in onomatopeias - for example, on the first page:
Plan the road. Plan the road.
Mark it on a map.
Hammer in the marking pegs.
PING! BANG! TAP!
The illustrations by Brian Lovelock are great too, simple and straight-forward yet with some nicely-placed details that has the kids asking lots of "what's that?" questions. They already seem fascinated watching the progress of the new road, though how much they really get is hard to say. What's great is that it goes well with another new addition to the picture book library, On the Move, which shows photos of excavators, dump trucks, cement mixers and loads more (another book they're currently addicted to).
March 17, 2017
This book has realistic and detailed pictures heavily featuring some of the machines that are so beloved of children. In some ways it reads as an apologetic for all the bloody roadworks we have these days as it even tries to greenwash the process with some landscaping at the end (no, that is not a spoiler). The book sort of rhymes and almost scans and each page rhyme ends with some onomatopoeia which I think in this context is less strong than some, and I feel sure the children don't so much listen to the text as drool over the machines (I could be wrong). The use f repetition in the text may help under-threes access it.
The pictures feature diverse workers (male and female and various skin colours) and also laudably feature the people having a break, sitting down together to share rest and food. The idea of rest as a given within the world of "work" is under-utilised in children's stories and perhaps consequently in public discourse. I really loved that about it. Mainly the leaders in each job appeared to be white males more so than not, which is a pity there were a lot of "generic/ungendered" figures but children learn early to read them as male, particularly where some others are female. The females looked as strong and capable as the males and sensibly proportioned. The work clothes were realistic. The machines were more detailed than the humans and were definitely the selling point of the book.
What would appeal to most adults is how keen to read, re-read and look at the book the target audience (very young children) seem to be Keep a copy in the car for them to read aloud to you every time you are going 25km/h in one lane only because of the ever-present bloody roadworks!!
The pictures feature diverse workers (male and female and various skin colours) and also laudably feature the people having a break, sitting down together to share rest and food. The idea of rest as a given within the world of "work" is under-utilised in children's stories and perhaps consequently in public discourse. I really loved that about it. Mainly the leaders in each job appeared to be white males more so than not, which is a pity there were a lot of "generic/ungendered" figures but children learn early to read them as male, particularly where some others are female. The females looked as strong and capable as the males and sensibly proportioned. The work clothes were realistic. The machines were more detailed than the humans and were definitely the selling point of the book.
What would appeal to most adults is how keen to read, re-read and look at the book the target audience (very young children) seem to be Keep a copy in the car for them to read aloud to you every time you are going 25km/h in one lane only because of the ever-present bloody roadworks!!
May 11, 2013
"Load the dirt. Load the dirt. Scoop and swing and drop. Slam it down into the truck. Bump! Whump! Whop!” Children from ages 2 to 5 may derive plenty of fun seeing the pictures and listening to someone read this to them in English, but the Spanish translation does not produce the same effect. These sentences appear in the Spanish edition as “Cargas la tierra. La tierra cargas. Excavas, recoges y apilas. Dentro del camión la descargas. ¡Cataplum! ¡Plis, plas!”
From the book's first sentence in Spanish, where the word “a” (meaning "to") is left out, it is clear that something is amiss in the translation. Except for the last page, all the verbs appear in the second-person singular familiar form. This makes the sentences sound awkward in Spanish, a problem that is compounded by illustrations showing many adults working in teams. The text would make more sense in the third person plural, which is implied in the English version.
One illustration shows people planting bushes along the roadside and watering them, while the text uses the Spanish words for ‘trees’ and ‘drinking water.’ Why drinking water? Even the title, “Construir una carretera,” has an awkward feel. “Roadwork” cannot be directly translated into Spanish, but the use of nouns as in “Construcción de una carretera” would have been better.
The Spanish translation of this board book just does not succeed.
From the book's first sentence in Spanish, where the word “a” (meaning "to") is left out, it is clear that something is amiss in the translation. Except for the last page, all the verbs appear in the second-person singular familiar form. This makes the sentences sound awkward in Spanish, a problem that is compounded by illustrations showing many adults working in teams. The text would make more sense in the third person plural, which is implied in the English version.
One illustration shows people planting bushes along the roadside and watering them, while the text uses the Spanish words for ‘trees’ and ‘drinking water.’ Why drinking water? Even the title, “Construir una carretera,” has an awkward feel. “Roadwork” cannot be directly translated into Spanish, but the use of nouns as in “Construcción de una carretera” would have been better.
The Spanish translation of this board book just does not succeed.
Read
July 31, 2021Baby loves this book. I think it is cool because it is a realistic list of the major steps that go into building a road. I wish there were more books that help us appreciate all the effort it takes to do public work projects. This book lists the planning of the road, the flattening of the roadbed, the pouring of the asphalt, the testing of the street lights, the planting of the trees along the road, and finally VROOM the road is ready. I like the style of the illustrations because although the pencil lines are definitive and angular the colors are wonderfully bright washes.
July 20, 2021
Kids liked it and they didn't use wrong terms for the construction vehicles
August 6, 2021
Big machines, noisy, rhyming (appeal terms from NoveList) - Emma
July 1, 2014
Back in 1994, Howard Stern entered the gubernatorial race as the Libertarian Party candidate. While he ultimately withdrew over financial disclosure concerns, he backed the eventual winner, George Pataki. A year later, he was able to get the "Howard Stern Bill" passed, which restricted road construction to nighttime hours in NYC. The gist of the proposal was arguing against the disruption to traffic during the day. Ironically, this nighttime construction frequently caused delays to his staff as they tried to make the early morning start time for the radio show.
This novel illustrates another downfall to nighttime construction. Noise. Through every page, the noises of roadwork are explored through gripping onomatopœia, as well as the details of the entire process from the planning stage to the completed working road.
This novel illustrates another downfall to nighttime construction. Noise. Through every page, the noises of roadwork are explored through gripping onomatopœia, as well as the details of the entire process from the planning stage to the completed working road.
February 9, 2011
This book covers the whole process of a road being built from smoothing the ground to planting flowers along the side. Great onomatopoeia. Awesome title for anyone who loves construction vehicles, or just likes noises books.
June 3, 2011
The little man L*O*V*E*S this book, but I did not. My environmentalist heart broke when they cut through the countryside for a stupid road. I know, I am ridiculous.
July 25, 2018
Roadwork, Construction, and Demolition are amazing books that will appeal to kids who love construction vehicles and watching, from start to finish, how workers use trucks and machines to transform a site or complete a project. Roadwork shows a new highway being dug, paved, wired, and painted. Construction is the story of a library being built. And in Demolition an old building is taken down so the land can be re-developed into a playground.
Sutton uses a driving, pulsing rhythm and rhyme scheme that communicates a lot of excitement. Each stanza ends with sound words that accurately convey, through onomatopoeia, the noise the machine makes. It’s extremely clear that author and illustrator have done a ton of research for each book, and children who read these will learn a lot about the nuts and bolts of construction.
Lovelock’s illustrations in all three books are wonderfully diverse, both racially and in representation of women. Sutton’s story choices (building a playground, a library, and doing roadwork) are highly relevant to children, and that personal connection about how this work builds something that kids use is what makes this trio of books so special. A brilliant, well-executed series for construction vehicle lovers.
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I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is part of a longer post on books for kids who really love trucks: https://www.lineupthebooks.com/20-boo...
Sutton uses a driving, pulsing rhythm and rhyme scheme that communicates a lot of excitement. Each stanza ends with sound words that accurately convey, through onomatopoeia, the noise the machine makes. It’s extremely clear that author and illustrator have done a ton of research for each book, and children who read these will learn a lot about the nuts and bolts of construction.
Lovelock’s illustrations in all three books are wonderfully diverse, both racially and in representation of women. Sutton’s story choices (building a playground, a library, and doing roadwork) are highly relevant to children, and that personal connection about how this work builds something that kids use is what makes this trio of books so special. A brilliant, well-executed series for construction vehicle lovers.
---
I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is part of a longer post on books for kids who really love trucks: https://www.lineupthebooks.com/20-boo...
September 9, 2025
I think "roadwork" is a different focus than most construction books, which are focused on building. This book shows a roadway being built from first step, plan, to last step, zoom. So that content is all good. The onomatopoeia is good, too. The text is written in a lyrical style that lends a specific cadence to each page. I did feel sad about cutting through rolling countryside to make way for cars, especially with such aggressive verbs like hammer, slam, ram, and force. Points awarded, though, for lunch break, planting trees, including lights, and adding a bike sign, though I don't see a very good bike lane.
January 14, 2020
This is one of my favourite books to read. The book has a pleasant rhyming story with lots of fun noises thrown in. This book is an excellent read aloud book, and the more animated the narrator, the more exciting the book becomes for little ears.
For any little one that loves big machines or big noises, this book is sure to make for happy children! The pages are also sturdy enough for infants and toddlers to turn while reading without causing damage.
For any little one that loves big machines or big noises, this book is sure to make for happy children! The pages are also sturdy enough for infants and toddlers to turn while reading without causing damage.
August 16, 2020
This is a well loved book by my vehicle loving 5 year old. It’s fun to read aloud as well, with lots of repetition and onomatopoeia and interesting words. The concept of following along with each step of the construction of a roadway is great. For kids who enjoy playing with vehicles and constructing roads in the sandbox like my child, it’s fun to know which vehicles do what and exactly how a road is made. Perfect for toddlers, preschool and kindergarten age children.
August 3, 2017
While the content of this book and Demolition may not be my preferred topic, for young readers who enjoy Construction, both Roadwork and Demolition provide bright easily viewed illustrations along with text that has a rhythm to it and lots of fun noises to make. They were enjoyed both by the pre-schoolers I did a read aloud with, as well as my five year old son.
July 19, 2018
If you can listen to the audio for this book, do. The man who reads it does a great job.
This book explains how a modern road is made. There are fun onomatopoeias which I enjoyed reading and listening to. My students liked saying the different sounds.
I would recommend this book to 1st and 2nd graders.
This book explains how a modern road is made. There are fun onomatopoeias which I enjoyed reading and listening to. My students liked saying the different sounds.
I would recommend this book to 1st and 2nd graders.
January 13, 2019
Young construction enthusiasts will love the rhythm, rhyme, and fun to hear and say onomatopoeic words that accompany the bold illustrations of people and machines building roads. Match this book with "The Road Builders" by B.G. Hennessy and Simms Taback and "One Hole in the Road" by W. Nikola-Lisa and Dan Yaccarino for a rollicking and educational story-time with a road-building theme.
April 16, 2019
This book is about construction workers on the road showing the process that is happening while also describing all the different sounds that are happening all at once.
This is a k-1 book that can help students start to read words describing things and can be used to also be teaching children rhyming word.
This is a k-1 book that can help students start to read words describing things and can be used to also be teaching children rhyming word.
April 15, 2024
A construction book about making a road. The book has realistic pictures of heavy duty machines which you can talk about with your little one. The pictures were nice and colourful. The book talks about the steps to making a road. The repeating of the first sentence twice was tedious to read. The noises were fun to make.
November 13, 2024
Strange that they don’t mention the horrible traffic that the roadwork causes or that the work seemingly never ends. Still, it was nice to read a somewhat longer children’s book that rhymes well. A welcome break from repeatedly saying “dog says woof” while pointing at a picture my daughter isn’t looking at because she’s trying to stick the book in her mouth.
February 18, 2018
One of my 1-year-old's faves. Came as part of a set of three and he loves them all, although Construction edges out this one and Demolition as his favourite. Simple concepts and fun rhymes keep him interested, and the sturdy construction of the books means they'll stand up to multiple re-readings.
May 2, 2020
Ilustraciones hermosas. Traducción terrible.
A mi hijo le interesa mucho todo lo que hable sobre la construcción. Pero la traducción de este libro no esta bien hecha. Es muy obvio que es un libro escrito en inglés y no esta bien traducido a el Español
A mi hijo le interesa mucho todo lo que hable sobre la construcción. Pero la traducción de este libro no esta bien hecha. Es muy obvio que es un libro escrito en inglés y no esta bien traducido a el Español
August 11, 2020
This has been a favourite with both my boys - along with the others in the series. Love the onomatopoeia and it really encourages them to join in. Illustrations are excellent and great rhythmic, rhyming text.
October 21, 2020
Happy to see representation of women and POC in this construction book. Lots of sound effects really makes the toddler happy and I’m happy to read it aloud whenever as it’s fun for me too. Fun book for the family to read.
October 9, 2021
I think this is the first one from this series where the sound words (ie Bump! Whump! Whop!) didn't feel as unnatural as the others. A nice book to see the progression, and the vehicles needed, to make a road from scratch.
October 13, 2021
It’s pretty realistic, fun to read, and I appreciated that it has both male & female workers and that the text emphasizes their labor as well as the cool machines. I also use it to talk about « sound words » (onomatopoeia) with my preschooler.
June 21, 2024
This is such a great book on road construction for little kids asking about how roads are made or just interested in those types of questions. Well and clearly illustrated, nicely laid out, clearly explained, and very well-written with lots of fun onomatopoeia.
Edited to add: at 2.5 years old this has become a quite frequently requested book!
Edited to add: at 2.5 years old this has become a quite frequently requested book!
June 5, 2017
My kid likes all the onomatopoeia.
June 22, 2017
Favorite of the 3 we read.
August 8, 2017
If you're doing a storytime about construction, this is a great choice.
August 16, 2017
Our third? Sally Sutton book - she's such a hit with our little builder.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews