Summer Reading Program 2014. Week 5: Engineering (Storytime)

So with the AC out, we had a bit of a change of plans.

Instead of our original line-up, we did a grouping of shorter stories, to save everyone from heat exhaustion.

Engineering Program, The Short Version:

Block City
Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Daniel Kirk
ISBN: 0689869649
Brightly-colored blocks and imaginative backgrounds bring a classic poem into modern experience.

I discovered this book a few weeks back, and fell in love.  It was perfect for this program, and I'm so glad I got the chance to use it (despite being sad about the other books that I had to leave out).  The poem is the classic version, no cuts or changes, and the pictures are joyful and creative, but still very grounded in reality - a young boy is playing inside with his blocks while it rains, and creates a city both in blocks, and in his imagination.  When the blocks go tumbling down to clean up, the block city may be physically gone, but the memory city will last.  Excellent intro for littles to classic authors and really good poetry.  A new favorite storytime book.


Dig Dig Digging
Margaret Mayo, illustrated by Alex Ayliffe
ISBN: 9780805068405
Cartoonish construction equipment and diverse workers go through their routines in this set of rhyming overviews.

Each spread covers a different type of equipment, and while I may be a little confused at the inclusion of Fire Engines, Long Distance Trucks, and Rescue Helicopters, again, I seriously doubt that my young audience cares a whit that none of those particular vehicles are in fact construction equipment.  Each vehicle has a short repetitive poem, none of which have anything to do with each other (in rhyme or in illustration) which makes skipping segments a real possibility if necessary or desired.  Due to the short rhymes, even with all of the vehicles covered, the read is very short, ending with a construction zone and "sleeping" equipment after a hard day of work.


Dig, Dogs, Dig: A Construction Tail
James Horvath
ISBN: 9780062189646
A colorful crew of cartoon hounds often appear super-imposed against the backdrops, but the story and illustrations appeal.

These are some busy, hardworking dogs.  I like most that they have hard-hats and plans and more equipment in and out on a schedule.  Even the text focuses on the precision of construction work: "Unpack the boxes. / Follow directions. / Make sure it's built right / so it passes inspection."  I like that the craft and science of this work is covered, in addition to the usual "yay earthmovers and playing in the dirt and building/destroying things!" that we usually have.  The progression is great, watching the project move from earthmoving to final touches like trees and wildlife, and ends with all of the dogs enjoying the park they've just constructed.