Bulldozer Friends

October 15, 2020
The star of the Digger Man (2003) books returns in this low-key paean to construction and friendship. Fond as he is of his little brother, young Oliver doesn't mind going to school because he has his friend Annie there. The two share a mutual love of building, drawing, trains, and other activities, but it's during outside recess that they get to do what they really love: play with the toy construction vehicles in the sandbox. "We are a team. / We work together like a real construction crew," says Oliver, operating a bulldozer as Annie does the same. In their imaginations, they actually drive trucks on a fanciful construction site over several double-page spreads until at last they are called back inside. The book deftly mirrors such social constructs as sharing (sometimes Annie plays with Oliver's bulldozer), friendship, and respectful play for those readers who may still find trucks more interesting than other kids. Gender equality takes the spotlight since Oliver and Annie are on equal footing at all times. Bright, colorful paints and clear-cut images add to the book's already considerable appeal. Oliver presents White, and Annie presents Black. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 59.1% of actual size.) Friendship and bulldozers. What could be sweeter? (Picture book. 2-4)

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November 2, 2020
Employing simple narration and uncomplicated acrylic illustrations in their follow-up to Digger Man, Zimmerman and Clemesha present a childlike snapshot of a play-filled day at preschool. Told from the perspective of a light-skinned, brown-haired boy named Oliver, the book opens with a cheerful scene of the school’s variously inclusive students being greeted by their teacher. After Oliver meets up with his friend Annie, a dark-skinned girl sporting pigtail puffs, the two enjoy typical preschool activities: making art, dressing up, and having a snack. When it’s time to head outside, the best buds play with construction vehicles together, seamlessly cooperating and sharing: “I like to dig with Annie. We are a team. We work together like a real construction crew,” declares Oliver, self-described “Bulldozer Man.” The illustrations turn fantastical as the two are featured in the driver seats of their vehicles, digging, tunneling, and building in a landscape of dinosaurs and castles. When it’s finally time to say goodbye, the slice-of-life tale concludes with a celebration of friendship, making for a mild read that embodies school goings-on and communal play. Ages 2–6.

December 1, 2020

Toddler-PreS-Oliver, a white preschooler, cannot wait to go to school to play with the bulldozer and his friend, Annie, who is brown. His classmates, diverse in race and ability, participate in daily activities such as drawing, reading, and snack time. But what Oliver and Annie look forward to most is outside play, where Oliver becomes Bulldozer Man. He and Annie become absorbed in their dramatic play, and the two take turns using the bulldozer to dig tunnels and build roads. Their cooperative companion play could spark conversations with young children about sharing and teamwork. The direct, uncomplicated writing, paired with clear, bold acrylic illustrations, makes this book approachable for toddlers and young preschoolers as they learn about a day in the life of their peers. The book doesn't rely on stereotypical gender roles: Annie is as interested in trains and construction as Oliver is in dress-up and art. Annie participates equally in the imaginary construction site, and as Oliver explains, "She pushes lots of dirt, just like me." These imaginative scenes have the familiar warmth and style of Zimmerman's Fire Engine Man, Digger Man, and Train Man. VERDICT Recommended for public libraries, especially where Zimmerman's other titles circulate.-Emily Brush, Novi P.L., MI

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