Construction Cat

by Barbara Odanaka, Sydney Hanson (Illustrations)

Cats in hard hats make work seem like play in this cheery, rhyming picture book about building something and having a loving family to share your accomplishments with.

Construction cat wakes up at dawn, grabs her boots and tugs them on…

It’s time to build! Tail high, Construction Cat kisses her family goodbye and goes to work with the other cats on a construction site. They lug lumber and pound nails, they saw, sand, and sweep the dust, all to build a truly paw-some park that they can’t wait to share with friends and family!

Sydney Hanson’s lively and lovable cats combined with Barbara Odanaka’s rhythmic story create a universal story that is a joy to read again and again.

Genres: Picture Books, Construction, Cats, Storytime, Childrens, Animals, Juvenile

40 pages, Hardcover

First published October 9, 2018

About the author

I'm an author of four rhyming picture books published by Simon and Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry Books and G.P. Putnam's Sons.

I wrote my first story at age 6 after discovering my grandparents' typewriter—a manual Royal model dating to the 1930s. The story was titled "The Happy Hamster" and dedicated to my first of many pet hamsters (Hamlet).

Before becoming an author, I was a sports reporter for the Los Angeles Times. At one point, one of my editors asked me why I was rhyming some of the lines in my columns. "Rhyming?" I asked, incredulous. "Yes, rhyming," the editor answered, pointing to the lines in question. That's when it dawned on me: maybe it was time to trade daily journalism for my lifelong dream of writing for children!

I love cats, chocolate and inspiring children through my school visits (in-person and virtual)!

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A female construction kitty! Bestill my heart. I went into this one not expecting much, but found a hidden gem. For fans of diggers, dozers, and kittens - this one was a win for me.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

More to it than meets the eye: A hardworking blue-collar mom, a stay-at-home dad, and a non-saccharine kitty book AND a non-super-testosterone-fueled construction book. Reads aloud well and is a breath of fresh air with some cute cat details. Highly recommended for ages 2-6.

[Rebecca Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet rhyme structure in the story, but what stood out is that MOM is the construction cat while dad stays at home with the kids. Stereotypes around construction work are avoided. All the cats work together to build a new playground. The importance of family is also included throughout the story. Colorful illustrations throughout. A winner for cat and construction fans!

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opened the book and it was so cute that my voice surpassed squeaking. It's so stinkin' adorable

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's cute! It rhymes! Construction cat is a lady! Yay!

[Tammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are so adorable and well done. I like that the mother is going to work and is in construction while the Dad cat takes care of the littles. Kids loved looking at the playground and virtually exploring it.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Adorable look into construction, and I loved how it also showed the importance of family.

[Ita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming. It's a about a female cat in charge of a construction crew. The rhymes and pictures were delightful. Loved the feminist empowerment.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Construction Cat is off to her job on the building site in this rhyming book. Very cool illustrations and the story breaks the stereotype of daddies going to construction jobs.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rejoice! It's a chick construction worker! And she's a cat!!

[Kalynne]

12.08.22 Storytime 17 ages 4-5

Introduction and announcements: Bread and Butter
Bread and butter
Marmalade and jam
Let’s say hello as loud as we can

Switch out loud with quiet, nice, mean, sad, etc.

Book one: Construction Cat by Barbara Odanaka

Song/rhyme/game one: Johnny Had One Hammer
Johnny had one hammer, one hammer, one hammer
Johnny had one hammer, then he had two (hammer with one hand pull out second)
Johnny had two hammers, two hammers, two hammers
Johnny had two hammers, then he had three (hammer with both hands stomp foot)
Johnny had three hammers, three hammers, three hammers
Johnny had three hammers, then he had four (hammer with both hands and a foot stomp other foot)
Johnny had four hammers, four hammers, four hammers
Johnny had four hammers, then he had five (hammer with both hands and both feet nod head)
Johnny had five hammers, five hammers, five hammers
Johnny had five hammers, then he went to sleep (hammer with both hands feet and head, then go to sleep)

Book two: Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker

Song/rhyme/game two: Drivin’ in my Car by Ralph’s World

Book three: Hard Hat Area by Susan L. Roth

Song/ rhyme/ game three: Here’s a house
Here’s a house with a floor (lay one arm flat)
With a floor with a floor (lay other arm on top)
Here’s a house with a wall (lift one arm to be a wall)
With a wall with a wall (lift other arm to be a wall)
Here’s a house with a roof (hold one arm over head)
With a roof, with a rooooooof (hold other arm over head, wiggle roof back and forth)
*Crash*
There’s no house anymore (slapping hands on lap or ground)
Anymore there’s no house anymore

Activity: https://acropolis-wp-content-uploads....

[Theo Scully · Rating 5 out of 5]

someone left this on my desk and it has made my day

[Denise O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cutest pictures ever!

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was nice to gender role reversals: Mama Cat is the construction worker and Papa Cat seems to be a SAHF.

[Allie Genia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so stinking cute! It's a great read-aloud and there are a lot of fun details for families to find when they take it home. Highly recommended for toddlers and kiddos with an interest in construction.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable kitties in hard hats build a playground. Love that it's the mama cat who is on the construction crew.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute construction story. The mother cat is the construction, which is a gender reversal that I appreciated.

[RJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too cute. Cats + construction + story in rhyme + a working mom cat and stay at home dad cat? Future storytime pick.

[sincerely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable drawings, simple rhymes, opportunity for making a melody to sing, stay-at-home dad with breadwinner mom. We've been reading this one for years. Love it ❤

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just want to say that I love construction cat, from the get-go because she is a female cat working in construction. We typically associate men with construction work, so breaking the mold off the bat like that is just great and shows kids that they truly can do anything they put their mind to.

I also love that she is a mother with a career while Pa cat is Mr. Mom. It's just a great way to show how different families function differently.

Just really cute! Totally enjoyed!

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Childrens picture book. The rhyming text shows construction cat going off to work while her husband cat stays at home with the kittens. Construction cat reads blueprints, uses machinery, and helps the other cats stay encouraged as they work together on the construction site. The end reveals their masterpiece-- a playground that any kitten (or child!) would love to play on.

A cute story that can appeal to both genders, and a construction story that doesn't seem overly loud.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love that the construction cat is a mum! She goes off to work (and appears to be either a supervisor or even the owner) at the construction site while the dad stays at home with the kids. Thumbs up for subverting gender stereotypes! A fun little rhyming story that my 2.5 year old is really enjoying at bedtime.

[Christin Thatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really cute. The mom cat is a construction worker, and the dad cat seems to be a stay at home dad, and I love that about this book. It was a cute, subtle divergence to the "traditional" family structure and gender stereotypes that are pervasive in books and media. I enjoyed reading it to my son.

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super cute book about a momma cat who works as a construction worker. I loved how this book broke stereotypes by having a female construction boss and the dad stays home and takes care of the children. A great book for a truck or construction theme at storytime.

[Nadine Poper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how Construction Cat is a mom. And dad shows up at the end with kittens in tow and a picnic basket. Adorable! The rhyme flows nicely and is well done. Illustrations are very kid friendly and fun.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mama kitty busts gender stereotypes as she leaves to work to drive an excavator and bulldozer and all the fun that goes with construction projects. Toddlers will love reading and the pictures as Construction Cat and her crew build a fun new playground.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids love this book (almost 2 y/o and almost 7 y/o), and I don't mind reading it over and over (and over and over) because it's cute, the rhyming flows smoothly, and absolutely nothing problematic is folded into it.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mama cat heads off to work for her day at the construction site. Love the gender reversal here. Preschool and up

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very kid-friendly approach to construction. The little mannerisms they incorporate into the cat characters is really cute!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful illustrations.