“Road Work Ahead,” by Anastasia Suen, illustrated by Jannie Ho, Viking Juvenile Sept. 15, 2011, $15.99 (ages 3-5)
A boy, his dog and his mom set out to visit Grandma, and they can’t wait. But rather than a leisurely drive, it seems as if they’re visiting a construction site.
Everywhere they drive, there are jackhammers in the streets and workers above them in the trees. People are changing out the streetlights and working down manholes. There are trucks crossing and holes being drilled. Power poles are being put up and concrete being poured.
Things are being fixed up everywhere.
“Road Work Ahead” combines all the construction jobs little children are fascinated by into one fun book. While simple text moves the story along, detailed and bright illustrations hold a child’s attention. Construction work tends to bring out the worst in people, but in “Road Work Ahead” the hard work is celebrated in an up-beat manner.
