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Builder Goose: It's Construction Rhyme Time!
One, two, here comes the crew!
Three, four, here come more... With three dump trucks, an itsy-bitsy skid steer, and a host of other equipment, there's a whole lot of building going on here! Amusing construction-themed nursery rhymes--each based on a Mother Goose favorite--feature diggers, graders, crushers, cranes, jackhammers, forklifts, and wrecking balls. With bright, bold illustrations, this fun read-aloud should be a big hit with kids.
Three, four, here come more... With three dump trucks, an itsy-bitsy skid steer, and a host of other equipment, there's a whole lot of building going on here! Amusing construction-themed nursery rhymes--each based on a Mother Goose favorite--feature diggers, graders, crushers, cranes, jackhammers, forklifts, and wrecking balls. With bright, bold illustrations, this fun read-aloud should be a big hit with kids.
24 pages, Hardcover
First published February 7, 2012
About the author
Boni Ashburn
11 books73 followersBoni Ashburn is the author of eight picture books, including Hush, Little Dragon and I Had A Favorite Dress. Boni lives in the Upper Peninsula Of Michigan with her four children and manages a school-public library.
*Please note: I give 5 stars to books I adore and MUST own, 4 stars to books that will stay with me in some way and that I almost-adore, and 3 stars to books I like. Two stars might be books that I like in some way, but most likely have some particular aspect that I don't think was executed as well as it could have been. One star means I truly do not care for the book- sorry. And no stars? Means I can't decide how I feel about the book and therefore I don't feel qualified to rate it. In any event, I hope no book takes its rating personally :)
Also, I prefer to use goodreads for its intended purpose- to give and find great book recommendations for the types of books I read. If I don't friend you back, it's probably because we don't read a lot of the same genre. For general network-type friending, please look for me on twitter or facebook- thanks!
*Please note: I give 5 stars to books I adore and MUST own, 4 stars to books that will stay with me in some way and that I almost-adore, and 3 stars to books I like. Two stars might be books that I like in some way, but most likely have some particular aspect that I don't think was executed as well as it could have been. One star means I truly do not care for the book- sorry. And no stars? Means I can't decide how I feel about the book and therefore I don't feel qualified to rate it. In any event, I hope no book takes its rating personally :)
Also, I prefer to use goodreads for its intended purpose- to give and find great book recommendations for the types of books I read. If I don't friend you back, it's probably because we don't read a lot of the same genre. For general network-type friending, please look for me on twitter or facebook- thanks!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
July 26, 2014
Though it is not the usual type of book I review, I feel I would be remiss if I did not provide feedback for "Builder Goose". After all, I have read it at least 3 times daily for the last 9 weeks (I know this exact period of time because we are nearing the expiration of the third library renewal)."Builder Goose" rewrites several well-known nursery rhymes to have construction site themes instead. There is nothing groundbreaking here, but my 3 year-old is in love with this wretched book and now no one in our family can remember the actual words to Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Instead we all sing:
"Twinkle twinkle wrecking ball
In the moonlight, o'er the wall
Back and forth you swing and smash
Making noises - Wham! Bang! Crash!
Twinkle twinkle wrecking ball
In the morning - LOOK OUT WALL!"
I may have given this book 4 stars initially, but it is losing its charm progressively the more I am compelled to read it.
"Twinkle twinkle wrecking ball
In the moonlight, o'er the wall
Back and forth you swing and smash
Making noises - Wham! Bang! Crash!
Twinkle twinkle wrecking ball
In the morning - LOOK OUT WALL!"
I may have given this book 4 stars initially, but it is losing its charm progressively the more I am compelled to read it.
June 1, 2012
So I guess the world really didn't NEED another subject-specific Mother Goose makeover, but a big shiny gold star to Builder Goose anyway, for doing it well. Boni Ashburn manages to keep not just the rhythm and meter of the rhymes in her revisions, but often the sense or some word choices as well. ("Crumbling bridge is falling down," "Five six, pick up bricks," "Sing a song of garbage/a bucketful of trash.") My 11-year-old poem-crazy daughter did have fun reading them and identifying the original verse.
October 13, 2013
Builder Goose: It's Construction Rhyme Time! by Boni Ashburn (2012)
Genre: Juvenile Fiction-Nursery Rhymes
Format: Book
Plot summary: Mother Goose nursery rhymes retold in a construction theme.
Considerations or precautions for readers advisory (strong language, sex, death, religious overtones, violence, etc.): No special considerations
Review citation (if available):Peters, John. Booklist. March 01, 2012
Section source used to find the material: Booklist review
Recommended age: 3-6 years old
Genre: Juvenile Fiction-Nursery Rhymes
Format: Book
Plot summary: Mother Goose nursery rhymes retold in a construction theme.
Considerations or precautions for readers advisory (strong language, sex, death, religious overtones, violence, etc.): No special considerations
Review citation (if available):Peters, John. Booklist. March 01, 2012
Section source used to find the material: Booklist review
Recommended age: 3-6 years old
February 22, 2012
A fun collection of construction themed nursery rhymes that I think preschool and kindergarten would enjoy as a read-aloud. Older children could use this as a writing prompt or fluency activity.
Once you read them out loud it is easy to figure out what rhymes and songs these were based on. It would have been helpful if these were listed right on the rhyming page.
Once you read them out loud it is easy to figure out what rhymes and songs these were based on. It would have been helpful if these were listed right on the rhyming page.
January 9, 2020
A play on Mother Goose rhymes with construction theme. Cohesive, with various construction trades represented, but as a reader, the most difficult part for me was trying to figure out what original rhyme is supposed to be the basis for each page. It. Was. So. Hard. I still don't know how to read some of the rhymes properly to my kids, and I've read it 3x now.
My son liked the illustrations. He kept reaching for this book, so I'd read it to him again. He's one, so I just skipped the rhymes I couldn't figure out, but it was a little frustrating.
My son liked the illustrations. He kept reaching for this book, so I'd read it to him again. He's one, so I just skipped the rhymes I couldn't figure out, but it was a little frustrating.
June 6, 2018
Cute construction/heavy-machinery themed songs/Mother Goose rhymes.
Most are pretty easy to figure out. A few are more opaque.
Most are done well (I'm a Heavy Grader and There Was an Old Foreman are both very nice), but a few are clunky (Jack and Jill's last line, for example).
It's not inherently obvious that "Sing a Song of Garbage" belongs with this set.
Most are pretty easy to figure out. A few are more opaque.
Most are done well (I'm a Heavy Grader and There Was an Old Foreman are both very nice), but a few are clunky (Jack and Jill's last line, for example).
It's not inherently obvious that "Sing a Song of Garbage" belongs with this set.
September 10, 2023
This book was so cool! It had brightly colored and fun illustrations, really accurate and informative poems about building, and it’s fun how they used nursery rhymes to make the poems and called it builder goose as a play on mother goose.
February 22, 2017
A variety of songs and rhymes, taken from old standards, that talk about construction and trucks.
June 26, 2017
I think I enjoyed this one more than the kiddos, but it was fun hearing the spin on classic nursery rhymes!
October 19, 2017
I have had to sing this book so many times I have the songs memorized. The kiddos love it!
April 18, 2019
This book really tested my memory for nursery rhymes! But it was funny and surprisingly informative about construction, something my toddler enjoyed.
November 15, 2019
Very cute reimaginings of classic nursery rhymes featuring construction equipment. As soon as we finished, my Godson wanted me to read it again immediately.
September 4, 2024
Mother Goose song lyrics changed to construction zone themes. Very cute!
November 25, 2016
Would love to read some excerpts for storytime! Yay!
April 11, 2016
For kids who love construction-- or who have families in the construction trades-- this collection of mother-goose rhyme pastiches is a sure winner. From laying out the plans and tasks through wheelbarrows of nails and finally cleaning up, rhymes work through the day's activities. Admittedly, the rhymes are sometimes strained, but kids will still enjoy them, along with the rounded animal figures that illustrate the text. A nice read-along.
January 28, 2014
the boy is in love with this book. to be honest, I picked it up because of the digger on the cover (we love diggers!), but I actually don't mind reading/singing it over and over and over. he particularly likes Roll, Roll, Roll the Road and I am particularly fond of Twinkle Twinkle Wrecking Ball.
some of the rhymes are a bit forced and don't work particularly well, but overall, a fun little read for a digger loving boy.
some of the rhymes are a bit forced and don't work particularly well, but overall, a fun little read for a digger loving boy.
February 6, 2017
I wasn't thrilled with this book. It would have been a lot nicer if each poem/rhyme listed what original rhyme it was supposed to sound like. Then there are the rhymes themselves. Some of them work alright, but a lot of them sound very forced and don't really fit with the rhyme they are trying to imitate. If your kid loves construction stuff and you've already read every other picture book with this theme, give it a try. Otherwise, pass.
March 28, 2013
Some of the songs and rhymes seem a little forced, but that almost makes them better. More absurd somehow. My favorite is a tie between Twinkle, Twinkle, Wrecking Ball and The Itsy Bitsy Skid Steer. Oh boy. I could see prechoolers thinking this was funny and toddlers just enjoying staring at construction equipment while mom and dad sing to them about it.
September 23, 2013
My initial reaction was ugh another reworked bunch of Mother Goose rhymes. And although I'm still not so thrilled about that I have to admit it was quite good for the fans of construction type books.... Which I am not.
Read this with both kids and O loved it. She would tell me what the original nursery rhyme was for each one.
Read this with both kids and O loved it. She would tell me what the original nursery rhyme was for each one.
June 1, 2012
This is a little collection of rhymes based on classic Mother Goose, but altered to fit an animal-run construction site. I found that I rushed to get through it and couldn't make myself read it a second time.
December 27, 2012
How about Mother Goose rhymes redone for heavy duty machinery and construction workers. Adding to a growing body of machinery books with possible song parodies from singable verses, not a bad volume to add to a collection for young children.
August 26, 2013
This is a unique and interesting book about construction vehicles and the people who work on construction sites. It is written for ECE age because on each page, there is a traditional nursery rhyme that has been rewritten to reflect the feeling of construction. The pictures are cute, too!
September 8, 2014
If you have a kiddo who loves construction, this is a great book. Each page is about a construction vehicle and is written in a familiar verse like Rock a Bye Baby or Baa Baa Black Sheep. My two year old wants to read it almost every day and I like it, too.
May 5, 2015
A fun spin on classic nursery rhymes like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Row, Row, Row Your Boat and London Bridge is Falling Down. These classics all take on a new form when they are put to construction themes. They may even become some of your new favorites.
March 20, 2015
A fun spin on classic nursery rhymes like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Row, Row, Row Your Boat and London Bridge is Falling Down. These classics all take on a new form when they are put to construction themes. They may even become some of your new favorites.
March 4, 2012
A play on traditional nursery rhymes.
April 6, 2012
Adding this to my list of "anytime I need a fill in" for story time.
May 2, 2012
Pre-K. There are some great construction rhymes in here for preschool storytime!
May 3, 2012
Traditional nursery with new words to fit a construction-based theme.
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June 5, 2012Both of my boys 2 and 4 loved this book. Traditional rhymes with a construction twist.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews