Tractor Mac Teamwork

Tractor Mac

by Billy Steers

All the vehicles and animals on Stonybrook Farm are enlisted to help build a new swimming hole for their town's residents. It is a big job, but Tractor Mac and his pals are willing to lend a hand. But a tractor named Deke thinks he can do it all by himself--and do it better than everyone else. He soon learns that a complex job is done best when each member of a team does his or her part.

Genres: Picture Books, Juvenile, Childrens, Animals

24 pages, Paperback

First published May 10, 2016

About the author

In April 1999, I introduced the first children’s book that I wrote and illustrated, Tractor Mac Arrives at the Farm. Originally published by Golden Books, Tractor Mac Arrives at the Farm tells the story of Sibley the work horse who feels slighted when a “shiny new tractor comes and takes over his chores.” Sibley and Mac overcome their differences and become “the best of friends.” Publisher’s Weekly called it a “bright, spirited read aloud” and after only five months the book was in its second printing.

I have continued on with several more enthralling and likeable Tractor Mac children’s books for boys and girls in the series. Children love the bright, detailed illustrations and absorbing stories, which have become “bedtime favorites.” Subsequent stories include Tractor Mac Learns to Fly followed by Tractor Mac You’re a Winner, Tractor Mac Builds a Barn, Tractor Mac Harvest Time, Tractor Mac Saves Christmas, Tractor Mac Parade’s Best, Tractor Mac Farmer’s Market and Tractor Mac Tune Up. The 10th title in the series, Tractor Mac Farm Days, is a board book developed for the littlest tractor fans and was released in the spring of 2012.

Reviews

[Kristi Betts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tractor Mac and all of his farm equipment friends, Daisy the Tractor, Doug the Steam Shovel, and Carl the Bulldozer are working to help Farmer Bill make a community swimming pond. When Deke the tractor arrives he believes he can do everything better than the rest and begins to take over the project. He soon discovers it is best to work as a team on a large project or problems can arise.

The Tractor Mac series of books is filled with colorful, fun illustrations of anthropomorphized farm equipment. The front and back cover of each of the books provides a very detailed illustration and description of either one of the pieces of equipment or a relevant object in the story. For this title the cover images include Doug the Steam Shovel and Tractor Mac.

[Ali Book&Seaglasshunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mac and Friends must work together to build a new swimming hole for the town. However one of the tractors doesn’t know how to work nicely with the others. He’s pushy, controlling, shows up late, and more. In the end he learns that sometimes being a good team member means listening to others and being a little more humble. After all everyone can contribute something important to get the job done. Lots of discussion points in this book about working as a team. Definitely a good tool for discussing expectations of working together. As with all the Mac books, it’s full of likable, wise characters and detailed illustrations. My son can’t get enough of Tractor Mac.

[Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a fan of Tractor Mac and his farm friends, we read this book at the library and it really scared Wallace (3.5 years). There's a part when a fellow tractor has a accident and falls into the water. While I love the theme of sharing, I feel like it's one of those "if you don't share this is what will happen" sort of messages that we talked about for a few days, even after he insisted we not bring the book home with us. Never the less, those conversations were valuable and my little worrier was quelled by our chats and I'm glad this book opened up that world for us.

[PottWab Regional Library]

A

[Scarlett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clunky dialog. It might resonate to a toddler, but I didn’t enjoy it

[Heather Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

megan winter reading 2016, children's book, picture book, series, tractor mac, teamwork, helping, prek, kindergarten, first grade, second grade,

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Farmer Bill agrees to help make a community swimming pool where an overgrown pond sits, all the farm animals and machines are excited to do their part. But before long Deke, a large tractor, starts bossing everyone around, criticizing their work, and taking over. Deke learns the hard way that working together is the way to go when completing a big project like this since his grading causes an accident. The others quickly rush to save Deke and fix the mess he has caused. A sheepish Deke apologizes and admits that he shouldn't have been so quick to take over. Kind-hearted Tractor Mac gives him a job, and the new pond is completed, attracting many humans and animals to its waters. As always with the stories in this series, there is a great lesson about how to live life as well as humor. Young readers will be charmed by these tractors and this depiction of farm life. I'm not sure how I feel about the pond's natural beauty being disturbed for the convenience of humans, though.

The paperback version is just like the hard cover only smaller, but it costs less and might be easier for young hands to handle.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Tractor Mac’s friends got together to help create a community pond. Everyone is doing their jobs and things are running smoothly until Deke arrives. He claims to be the best at everything takes away everyone else’s jobs. He ultimately makes a mistake and requires everyone’s help to rescue him and make it right. Deke learns that you don’t have to do everything to be important—small parts of the whole are just as important—and that good friends help you when you mistakes even if those mistakes are super inconvenient and hurt their feelings.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ecological considerations aside, this is another well-done addition to the Tractor Mac series. Kids can really relate to the conflict with Deke and it has some good opportunities to talk about feelings and teamwork without feeling too forced. Recommended for ages 3-5.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Appealing picture book for kids interested in tractors, grades PK-2. Could be used with character education and/or working together lessons.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

what the title says