Bulldozer Helps Out
Little Bulldozer is ready to lend a hand at the construction site, but there is just one problem: his co-workers think he is too small for the job. After watching the action from the sidelines in disappointment, he is finally given an opportunity to clear and flatten a small area. Bulldozer eagerly gets to work, but abruptly stops when he discovers something in the debris. When the larger trucks find that Bulldozer hasn’t done his job, they also find that, in this case, there is more than meets the eye!
Pennsylvania Center for the Book Awards
Book Activities & Discussion Ideas
When reading this book with children, talk about the different times when Bulldozer has to stop and watch. At the beginning of the story, he has to wait and watch the bigger trucks work. Later in the story, he stops and watches to see if the kittens are cozy in the special space he created. Children can talk about times when it is important to stop and observe what is going on around them. Adults can take a walk outside with children, encouraging them to look closely at the things they find along the way. Are there things they may have missed if they had not stopped to look closely? When playing with toy construction vehicles outside in the grass or dirt, or inside with rice or playdough, what types of things can children find when they dig slowly and carefully?
Children are wonderful observers. As adults, we focus on the text when we read. Children focus on the illustrations and often catch details that adults may miss. As families read with children, they can ask questions and listen closely to what their child has to say. Are there any clues within the illustrations that help predict what might happen next? Invite children to enjoy and join in as you read large print words and sound words depicting the vehicle noises.