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Junkyard
Man the machines and help clean up the junkyard in this rousing robot story that encourages community building.
The yard has junk! Stacks and heaps and piles of junk as far as the eye can see. But the Munching Machine robots are on the job—it’s time to get cleaning! And after a whole lot of CRUNCHING, CHEWING, CHOMPING, SLURPING, and SWEEPING, what’s next? Time to get BUILDING, DIGGING, PLANTING, and DECORATING the new park for everyone to enjoy!
Fun, rhyming text paired with irresistible robots and radiant results make this an engaging read-aloud that will inspire clean-up projects of all sizes.
The yard has junk! Stacks and heaps and piles of junk as far as the eye can see. But the Munching Machine robots are on the job—it’s time to get cleaning! And after a whole lot of CRUNCHING, CHEWING, CHOMPING, SLURPING, and SWEEPING, what’s next? Time to get BUILDING, DIGGING, PLANTING, and DECORATING the new park for everyone to enjoy!
Fun, rhyming text paired with irresistible robots and radiant results make this an engaging read-aloud that will inspire clean-up projects of all sizes.
40 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
March 17, 2022
Picked this out thinking it would be about robots crushing piles of junk, but it has a lovely story of caring for and cleaning up the environment.
April 7, 2023
I bought this book for my grandsons and I love it! I knew I'd like the illustrations from the preview pages I saw. They make a person want to climb into the book and play there. The rhyming story line was very well thought out and very good too. Wonderful imaginative book. Can't wait for the boys to read it with me.
I liked this book so much, that after the boys outgrew this story I asked for the book back. Such fun illustrations. I see this author has another nice looking book called Monster's Love Colors that appears to have amazing colorful illustrations too. I'll watch for it.
I liked this book so much, that after the boys outgrew this story I asked for the book back. Such fun illustrations. I see this author has another nice looking book called Monster's Love Colors that appears to have amazing colorful illustrations too. I'll watch for it.
May 4, 2015
Rhyming story; very cute pictures
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April 7, 2020The book starts off with a messy junkyard with stuff that is piled everywhere. The robots get to work cleaning it up, and begin munching on all the junk. Tires, old planes, buses, and even old toilets. Slowly the ground is able to be seen again and space begins to open up. Then when everything is cleaned up, the robots begin to plants trees and flowers and the plans includes a playground, playing fields and tennis court with places to swim and hike. Once they finish they invite their friends to join in on the fun.
October 20, 2023
The pictures in this book were cool, but it felt like the story had a missing element. The story didn’t seem to have a clear driving purpose and it felt more like a rambling list of items than a progressing storyline. This in effect made the theme hard to pinpoint, although one can guess that if the robots have to eat up this much junk in the junkyard and are then trying to plant new plants, that the theme would be related to recycling, reusing, planting, and doing what we can to protect, preserve, and care for the planet.
January 31, 2019
I don’t love that this book tells kids that all of our garbage and our NUCLEAR SLUDGE is just gobbled up by giant robots. I mean, that would be great if that were true, but it’s not so be good to the earth, kiddos. Also, the rhyme was just slightly off and the rhythm scheme kept changing, which makes me crazy to have to read. But the two-year-old did enjoy looking at pictures of giant trash-eating robots, so there’s that.
February 3, 2020
I loved this book! I think that the book was a great book for readers of all levels. The book had excellent wording, and pictures. Even a non reader would be able to enjoy this book, because the pictures were so great. I loved that this book could lead into a lesson about going green, recycling, or a science lesson about metals, because the story talks about how the metal robots at all of the metal and junk in the junkyard, then they cleaned it into a park.
July 1, 2023
The optimistic blurber here on Goodreads asserts that this picture book can help with "community building."
As if! Seems to me, this title appeals more to the following interests. (Often very strong interests throughout life and, particularly, very strong interests for preschoolers.)
* Mess, lotsa mess
* Trucks, lotsa trucks
* Robots
* Gross eating
* And nobody ever has to clean up a thing
Once again Mike Austin has come up with a FIVE STAR winner for this age group.
As if! Seems to me, this title appeals more to the following interests. (Often very strong interests throughout life and, particularly, very strong interests for preschoolers.)
* Mess, lotsa mess
* Trucks, lotsa trucks
* Robots
* Gross eating
* And nobody ever has to clean up a thing
Once again Mike Austin has come up with a FIVE STAR winner for this age group.
July 27, 2017
A pair of trash chomping robots transform a ugly junkyard into a wonderous playground.
Illustrations are fun.
Illustrations are fun.
August 24, 2017
My robot-obsessed 3-year-old LOVES it.
August 28, 2018
Very cute!
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February 28, 2020I think this was a cute book. It would be good for younger grades. It would be good for students who like junkyards, cars, trucks, etc. You could also use this book to talk about reuse and recycle!
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April 26, 2020Fun book for young readers that teaches them about recycling.
December 4, 2020
Great story about repurposing
June 19, 2021
Read aloud at library storytime.
December 3, 2021
This is a book about robots cleaning up a yard that is full of junk. They want to clean up the junkyard to create an area for everyone to come and play.
April 27, 2023
Quick picture book read aloud to calm the chaos of a rough morning. Enjoyed the art very much!
Positive that this cute book will be read again and again
Positive that this cute book will be read again and again
November 6, 2023
Lengthy for a picture book that appears to be for the toddler and preK crowd. Illustrations are fun but are very busy.
Themes: junk, books that rhyme
Ages: preK-K
Pub year: 2013
Themes: junk, books that rhyme
Ages: preK-K
Pub year: 2013
July 4, 2024
Storytime: Robots, Community Helpers
April 3, 2020
Cleaning up, Rhymes, Building, Outdoors, Play, Robots
January 16, 2014
Two huge robots are in a junkyard where there is garbage that goes on for miles. Then the robots start munching, eating cards, buses, planes and more. They devour trains, chains, tires, and bicycles. They drink paste, goo and toxic waste. Then the story changes and the robots clean up the few things that are left behind, just one little stack. And it’s time for something new. The robots dig holes in the ground and plant trees and flowers. They build a playground and dig out a lake. They have gardens and dirt piles. And now what once was a junkyard is a place just for you!
Done in a romping rhyme, this picture book has the appeal of huge robots and destruction. I must admit that I was completely disarmed by the change of tone in the book when the robots changed from destruction to creation. It was a striking choice to make in the book and one that will increase its appeal.
Austin’s art is vibrant and colorful. He uses deep colors that are rich and pop against the white background. The robots are friendly even as they devour planes and buses. With the rhyme, the entire book has a playful feel that makes it work well.
A celebration of robots, destruction and making something of nothing, this is a bright and fun joy of a book. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
Done in a romping rhyme, this picture book has the appeal of huge robots and destruction. I must admit that I was completely disarmed by the change of tone in the book when the robots changed from destruction to creation. It was a striking choice to make in the book and one that will increase its appeal.
Austin’s art is vibrant and colorful. He uses deep colors that are rich and pop against the white background. The robots are friendly even as they devour planes and buses. With the rhyme, the entire book has a playful feel that makes it work well.
A celebration of robots, destruction and making something of nothing, this is a bright and fun joy of a book. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
February 20, 2014
Age: Preschool-1st grade
Nature: rehabilitating junkyards
A fun rhyming exploration of the mounds of trash within a junkyard. The Munching Machines start clearing out the trash by shoving all that nastiness in their mouths. The illustrations are a contained sort-of messiness that allow you to focus on the items mentioned in the text, creating a kind of search-and-find. The picture book takes an interesting turn as the Munching Machines perform more than digesting trash--they bring back trees, and parks, and playgrounds to the once trashed area.
There is one problem point that children will be sure to point out. After all the rubbish is swept away, one small stack remains. BUT IT IS NEVER CLEANED UP OR TALKED ABOUT AGAIN. Oh, the unfinished misery.
Nature: rehabilitating junkyards
A fun rhyming exploration of the mounds of trash within a junkyard. The Munching Machines start clearing out the trash by shoving all that nastiness in their mouths. The illustrations are a contained sort-of messiness that allow you to focus on the items mentioned in the text, creating a kind of search-and-find. The picture book takes an interesting turn as the Munching Machines perform more than digesting trash--they bring back trees, and parks, and playgrounds to the once trashed area.
There is one problem point that children will be sure to point out. After all the rubbish is swept away, one small stack remains. BUT IT IS NEVER CLEANED UP OR TALKED ABOUT AGAIN. Oh, the unfinished misery.
February 8, 2014
If I remember correctly I saw an interview in the back of book pages at library for this book.
It was better then I thought it be based on the cover and interview.
I did read this with my 32 month old daughter who really didn't seem all the interested except maybe when she noticed the balloons.
I'll be honest I started losing interested when they started planting things and building playgrounds.
I think if my mom's ex's daughter was a little younger this book would be perfect for her since her father is a junk man.
I never really seen a dump/junkyard clean up and turn into anything like a community garden or playground.
It was better then I thought it be based on the cover and interview.
I did read this with my 32 month old daughter who really didn't seem all the interested except maybe when she noticed the balloons.
I'll be honest I started losing interested when they started planting things and building playgrounds.
I think if my mom's ex's daughter was a little younger this book would be perfect for her since her father is a junk man.
I never really seen a dump/junkyard clean up and turn into anything like a community garden or playground.
April 17, 2019
A lively story about transforming a junkyard into a park. I love the Munching Machine's careful fingers - tying tire swing ropes, tipping watering cans, holding tiny brooms. There's a great sense of energy and motion in the pictures, which are really the star here. You could almost tell the story just through the pictures alone. Some of the junkyard materials make a reappearance in the park, although that's not explicitly stated in the text. Also, bonus points for different endpapers at each end!
April 2019 - Ben loved seeing all the trash eaten up by the machines.
April 2019 - Ben loved seeing all the trash eaten up by the machines.
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April 4, 2019Re-read March 2019 - I picked this for Mommy to read to me the other night.
Re-read January 2019 - Mama read this to me tonight. I picked it off my shelf because I wanted to read about robots, but I remembered it was called "Junkyard"!
Re-read March 2018 - Daddy bought this for me the other day after emailing the author about a different book! I've read it several times since we got it. I like reading it to myself by talking about what's going on in the pictures.
Originally read October 2016 - We got this from the library. Mama read this to me last week. I love robots!
Re-read January 2019 - Mama read this to me tonight. I picked it off my shelf because I wanted to read about robots, but I remembered it was called "Junkyard"!
Re-read March 2018 - Daddy bought this for me the other day after emailing the author about a different book! I've read it several times since we got it. I like reading it to myself by talking about what's going on in the pictures.
Originally read October 2016 - We got this from the library. Mama read this to me last week. I love robots!
March 21, 2014
Would be perfect for a readaloud for age 3-4 but it's just a touch too long. I would be prepared to skip pages during story time if interest flagged. Otherwise, great for one-on-one with a child who loves to pore over illustrations. Share with fans of the movie WALL-E or the book I Stink!
February 18, 2015
Two robots start chewing, crunching, chomping, slurping and sweeping the piles of junk in a junkyard. When it is cleaned up the robots dig a garden, build a playground and pile mountains of dirt for hiking, running and biking trails. The robots create a beautiful playground for everyone to enjoy. Reviewer 25
March 5, 2016
I snagged this off the library shelf as a possible recommendation to my robot-loving nephew - it passes, without impressing all that much. The rhyming structure is clumsy and irregular, the story's first half is overlong, and the illustrations don't keep the interest, but I liked the message, and some pages were nicely rhymed and fun to read.
November 6, 2014
Two robots crunch and munch everything in a junkyard and then build a park with a lake, hiking and biking trails and garden. This would be a good book for kids looking for books on robots or teachers and librarians looking for books to share for Earth Day or any "green" storytime or unit.
July 25, 2016
What do robots do after a day of munching on junk? The answer might surprise you! I thought this book was ok, but it really didn't stand out. I enjoyed the illustrations which were much more unique and entertaining for me than the actual story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews