CONSTRUCTION SITE

The Construction Site vehicles fight fire—with a little help from their friends.

Under a beautiful evening sky, machines sleep peacefully. Suddenly a powerful windstorm arrives, causing a fuel leak and blowing down power lines. Fire quickly flares. Help arrives, but even the Fire Department’s “big hero trucks” need some assistance—and luckily, the construction crew is happy to oblige, with Bulldozer plowing the entry gate so the newcomers can enter and Cement Mixer lighting the way. Alarms scream, and smoke fills the air. Command Vehicle, Pumper (ably assisted by tiny Skid), Ladder Truck, and others each do their part, and once the fire is under control, Bulldozer, Crane, and Dump Truck remove flammable items and work to clean up and rebuild. As the smoke clears and “they see each other, safe and sound,” the unseen narrator emphasizes a crucial point—“What matters is: We’re all okay.” In a calm reprise of the start, a tranquil night ends a tough day. Rinker’s rhythmic verse ramps up the drama during tense moments, while Ford’s warm, familiar artwork is even more striking than usual; the deep-blue night sky contrasts with orange flames and crimson trucks, and the anthropomorphic vehicles gaze in fear. But author and illustrator make clear that even amid disaster, collaboration and perseverance win the day—a message reiterated by a quick note describing how firefighters work together in real life.

Gripping, thrilling, and even scary at times, but ultimately reassuring.