Going into its third year, Michigan Construction's Truckload of Books giveaway continues to delight children in elementary grades and spark interest in constructions careers.
Thanks to support from partners, we’ll be giving away even more truckloads of books about construction, architecture and building things! Elementary and preschool teachers could win up to 10 books free for their classrooms and are encouraged to expand lessons about how things are built. The giveaway celebrates National Reading Month and raises awareness of potential construction careers among young children.
That’s exactly what Michael Buckley did when his pre-kindergarten class at Monroe’s Arborwood Elementary School won a Truckload of Books last year.
"They were so excited," Buckley said. "They loved all the books about big machines and building things. They asked a bunch of questions and had fun passing around a hard hat. They really got engaged."
Using the books and some construction projects in the area, Mr. Buckley was able to encourage the children to envision themselves as doing this work when they grow up. Having a lot of females represented in the books also helped the girls see potential careers, he added.
"We spent a lot of time reading all the books and sharing them," he added.
Elementary and preschool teachers can enter their classrooms for a chance to win a truckload of books by filling out the form on this page.
The following books are an example of the selections you may receive:
Architecture According to Pigeons by Speck Lee Tailfeather
This fun, lively book introduces children to world’s most beautiful buildings through a "bird’s eye view" of the Colosseum, the Taj Mahal, Golden Gate Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, the Eiffel Tower, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater and dozens of other buildings.
Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty
Iggy's second-grade just teacher doesn't understand Iggy's obsession with building things. It looks as if Iggy will have to trade in his T square for a box of crayons . . . until a fateful field trip proves just how useful a mast builder can be.
How a Bridge is Built (Engineering Our World) by Sam Aloian
Bridges are a big part of how people get from place to place. But how do they work and how are they built? This book for 3rd and 4th grades illuminates the science behind every span we drive over and sometimes under.
Pete the Cat: Construction Destruction! by James Dean
This story finds Pete the Cat on a mission to build a new school playground, so he calls in construction workers and heavy equipment. In the end, Pete Cat learns that to make something really great, you have to dream big! A great lesson-learned tale.
Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Big machines work hard all day and this #1 best-selling book recognizes that fact and helps little ones also understand that at the end of the day even machines have to rest. A great story that is both soothing and fun.
Mighty, Mighty Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Construction sites are busy places from sunup to sundown, and this wonderful book tells how everyone works together all day to get their work done. Lots of rhyming and a happy, peppy tone makes this book one that will be read again and again.
Backhoe Joe by Lori Alexander
What if you adopted a lost backhoe and tried to make it your pet? Well one little boy finds out and learns about responsibility and how much work goes into owning a “pet.”
Mighty Machines, by Penelope Arlon
This LEGO crew is learning about giant construction vehicles like diggers, bulldozers, cargo ships and airplanes. They'll even learn about rockets that take astronauts into space! Featuring fun facts, mini comics, building ideas and stickers, Mighty Machines is the perfect book for any young reader.
B Is for Bulldozer: A Construction ABC by June Sobel
A wonderful way to learn the alphabet and about construction all at once. Another nice thing is the inclusion of female construction workers, which shows youngsters construction is work everyone can do!
Who Made this Cake? by Chihiro Nakagawa
Teeny-tiny children and massive construction equipment team up in this construction/baking adventure. A mixture of fantasy, fiction and reality, it's a great twist on the building theme and appeals to boys and girls.
Roadwork by Sally Sutton
With illustrations that look like the real equipment, Roadwork tells the story of how roads are built, including fairly detailed descriptions of the machines, how they work and what jobs they do. The rhymes and repetition make it fun to read and understand.
Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty
Aspiring engineer Rosie Revere learns how to take criticism and keep trying. For grownups it’s a lesson in how important it is to be supportive, help to build each child’s self-confidence and inspire them not to give up.
Old MacDonald Had a Truck by Steve Goetz
A new take on the beloved song “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” uses the familiarity of the tune to include different heavy machines like excavators and bulldozers making it a fun, easy and musical read for students.
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
This classic tale by a Caldecott Medal winning author shows how one hardworking little tractor gathers the courage to endure during a blizzard when she alone has the power to dig out the city.
If you haven’t yet entered your elementary class to win our "truckload" of construction books for your classroom library, do it now! Celebrate National Reading Month and click the link to enter to win and to download our coloring page!