Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site
Charming bedtime book is magic for truck lovers.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Sherri Duskey Rinker's Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld, has the makings of a bedtime classic. It has just enough action to satisfy kids who are crazy for trucks, but the gentle, rhyming text is soothing -- just right for bedtime. It was named an American Library Association Notable Book for Children.
Community Reviews
My boy gives two thumbs up. I don’t.
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Needs pronoun help but great
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What's the Story?
The day is drawing to a close at a busy construction site. One by one, five trucks finish up their day's work -- or rather, play -- and wind down for bed. They take a bath, close their doors, shut down their engines, and settle in for hard-earned rest so they'll be ready to rev back up the next day.
Is It Any Good?
GOODNIGHT, GOODNIGHT, CONSTRUCTION SITE deftly blends the excitement of a construction site with the classic elements of a lullaby book. Rhythmic, repetitive text by Sherri Duskey Rinker slowly casts a sleepy spell. Richly hued oil pastels by Tom Lichtenheld (Duck! Rabbit!) bathe the trucks in golden late-day colors and deep indigo at night. Kids will love the tiny touches: a blanket draped over snoozing Cement Mixer, a teddy bear cradled by Crane Truck, who holds a glowing star nightlight aloft with his boom.
Kids will appreciate that these seemingly untiring, hardworking machines get tuckered out, too. The trucks' bedtime routines are familiar: They ease into rest by wrapping up the day's fun, quieting down, perhaps taking a bath, and then tucking themselves in. All that's missing is the bedtime story!
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the trucks prepare for bed. How is their winding-down time similar to your bedtime routine? Do trucks sleep the same way you do?
Talk about the type of work done by each type of truck and how they work together as a team. Point out trucks when you spot them out and about.
Parents can print out online activity sheets and help kids do a dot-to-dot, draw a picture of Crane Truck's dream, or match Cement Mixer's expression to the right emotion.
Book Details
- Author: Sherri Duskey Rinker
- Illustrator: Tom Lichtenheld
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Cars and Trucks
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Chronicle Books
- Publication date: May 4, 2011
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 32
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Award: ALA Best and Notable Books
- Last updated: December 18, 2020
Our Editors Recommend
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I'm Dirty!
Great read-aloud for truck-crazed kids.
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Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go
Excellent vocab builder is also big wacky fun.
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Freight Train
Young train lovers will be intrigued.
For kids who love cars and trucks
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