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Whatcha Building?
'A MULTI-LAYERED BOOK ABOUT HOW OUR WORLD IS CHANGING AROUND US'
- ReadPlus
The old milk bar on the corner is coming down to make way for something new. Little Davey Durak is gathering scrap - a short piece of wood here, a long piece there.
But what's Davey building? Bruce the builder wants to know, but Davey won't tell ...
Bestselling author Andrew Daddo and award-winning illustrator Stephen Michael King come together for the first time to bring you this very special picture book.
MORE PRAISE
'Whatcha Building is a gentle tale of a little person with a big environmental message. There are many layers to unpack, explore and simply enjoy. Highly recommended across the Primary years.' MAGPIES
'a multi-layered book about how our world is changing around us ... There are many themes and ideas presented here that will initiate a variety of conversations and explorations, especially regarding how the world is changing, what is being lost and what we should try to hold on to.' READPLUS
'A fantastic new offering from two remarkable talents' KIDS' BOOK REVIEW
'Whatcha Building? relays a wonderful message of community and awareness of recycling and sustainability. The text and illustrations are carefully considered whilst absolutely entertaining us at the same time. A down-to-earth book to share with dads; a reading experience that is sure to be recycled over and over.' BOOMERANG BOOKS
'loved the imaginative use of recycled materials in the illustrations, reflecting the preservation of community. This book provides avenues for conversation and reflection, and encourages children to respect their community and maintain its history.' READING TIME
'Young readers will have fun trying to predict what it is that Davey is building while others will relate to their neighbourhood slowly but surely changing as "progress" comes to town.' THE BOTTOM SHELF
'I love the illustrations in this story as they not only accompany the text but they add more depth to each page. Stephen Michael King has used recycled garbage, cardboard, pen and ink to create the illustrations and this combination brings life to the story.' EDUCATE. EMPOWER.
- ReadPlus
The old milk bar on the corner is coming down to make way for something new. Little Davey Durak is gathering scrap - a short piece of wood here, a long piece there.
But what's Davey building? Bruce the builder wants to know, but Davey won't tell ...
Bestselling author Andrew Daddo and award-winning illustrator Stephen Michael King come together for the first time to bring you this very special picture book.
MORE PRAISE
'Whatcha Building is a gentle tale of a little person with a big environmental message. There are many layers to unpack, explore and simply enjoy. Highly recommended across the Primary years.' MAGPIES
'a multi-layered book about how our world is changing around us ... There are many themes and ideas presented here that will initiate a variety of conversations and explorations, especially regarding how the world is changing, what is being lost and what we should try to hold on to.' READPLUS
'A fantastic new offering from two remarkable talents' KIDS' BOOK REVIEW
'Whatcha Building? relays a wonderful message of community and awareness of recycling and sustainability. The text and illustrations are carefully considered whilst absolutely entertaining us at the same time. A down-to-earth book to share with dads; a reading experience that is sure to be recycled over and over.' BOOMERANG BOOKS
'loved the imaginative use of recycled materials in the illustrations, reflecting the preservation of community. This book provides avenues for conversation and reflection, and encourages children to respect their community and maintain its history.' READING TIME
'Young readers will have fun trying to predict what it is that Davey is building while others will relate to their neighbourhood slowly but surely changing as "progress" comes to town.' THE BOTTOM SHELF
'I love the illustrations in this story as they not only accompany the text but they add more depth to each page. Stephen Michael King has used recycled garbage, cardboard, pen and ink to create the illustrations and this combination brings life to the story.' EDUCATE. EMPOWER.
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
32 pages, Hardcover
First published May 22, 2017
About the author
Andrew Daddo
50 books11 followersBorn Andrew Dugald Daddo with twin James Beilby. School included "broken arms and fingers, scrapes and scratches, girlfriends, hot chips and a football team that refused to win a premiership." Careers included radio, TV - DVDs for GlobeTrekker. "He has written books for all ages – picture books, chapter books, short story collections, young adult novels and adult non-fiction." He "lives on Sydney’s Northern Beaches with" .. seven others "if you include our chicken Spite and thirteen if you include those pesky Indian Miner Birds who sneak in the crack in the window to eat what Spud the Dog, Felix, Bibi or Jasper (our kids) or Jacquie (my wife) leave lying around." https://www.facebook.com/andrew.daddo.16
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 4, 2018
Whatcha Building? is a warm, gentle story with themes of kindness, friendship, urban development / gentrification, recycling. It has a distinctly Aussie vibe, through its language (first time I've seen "schmick" in print!), illustrations and through the above-mentioned themes, which are hot topics in urban Australia (as well as in many parts of the world).
In this book, Stephen Michael King's illustrations really take the story to a different level. Not only do they add extra quirk and charm (his work does that wherever it appears); his use of collage drive the environmental message home (many of the background buildings are made from recycled materials). I also adore the colourful endpapers with their detailed illustrations of handtools (can we please get wrapping paper like that?). Overall a beautiful and enjoyable package.
In this book, Stephen Michael King's illustrations really take the story to a different level. Not only do they add extra quirk and charm (his work does that wherever it appears); his use of collage drive the environmental message home (many of the background buildings are made from recycled materials). I also adore the colourful endpapers with their detailed illustrations of handtools (can we please get wrapping paper like that?). Overall a beautiful and enjoyable package.
July 10, 2019
Such a fun Australian book! The old milk bar is being taken down and each day, on his way home from school, Little Davey stops to ask the builder if he can recycle some of the timber. Bruce the Builder begins to imagine all the different things Davey might be building and at the end of the story, the secret is revealed!
Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
March 6, 2020
Visual feast, very wholesim.
September 21, 2020
Great book. So true, the child has more insight than man. Unfortunately no one listens to the child until it’s too late.
September 30, 2020
Pretentious attempt at humour in a self-indulgent virtue-signalling boring children's story. Clunky writing. Just no.
January 18, 2021
A great story about making and building, with a suspenseful build-up to a fun twist ending. Loved reading this in a thick Australian accent.
March 6, 2021
A story about the change to communities through gentrification.
June 3, 2021
The kids were curious about this story and enjoyed listening to it.
January 18, 2024
The funnest part for me was seeing the Australianisms like ‘mate’, and ‘super schmick’ 😂 I think I loved this feature of the book the most!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2025
This one is great for predictions, love the 2D and 3D illustration style - compliments the storyline. Nice little references to Melbourne and Australia too.
Quite an enjoyable read
Quite an enjoyable read
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews