A lovely, warm and reassuring picture book for young children, this book has been almost constantly a bestseller since it was first published in 2011. How much these days we are all caught up in a busy world and yet yearn for a simpler time when things moved slowly and predictably as they do in the world of the picture book construction site. Readers are invited to "turn off your engines, stop your tracks, relax your wheels, your stacks and backs..."
You can almost hear the clank of steel beams being placed in their positions as each truck carefully folds itself down into place, snugly preparing for sleep. When read slowly and with flair, the descriptive words will nourish young minds.
Illustrations appear simple and naive but a closer look shows they are skilfully packed with emotion. For example, the "tough and strong" bulldozer is by the end of the day somewhat reduced in stature and expression, his eyes are flat and staring - he is ready for sleep.
Alternating sunny/orange and then blue starlit pages are appealing. The blue twilight colors naturally lull children into a sleepy feeling. Studies have shown that blue-green colors of the spectrum can have a sleep-inducing or sedative affect, and it seems to work with this book! The rhyming and colors are reminiscent of Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon, except that there are no knitting bunnies here! This book will especially appeal to boys but is equally appealing to girls who like trucks. (Why is it that boys love construction and trucks so much?!)
All is quiet and orderly as the world of the trucks comes to a natural close after each completes its last bit of work - the day's hard work is done and so all is right and ready for a good sleep. A former children's librarian, Jane Fagan is currently a full-time mother of two.