MACHINES GO TO WORK
by William Low & illustrated by William Low
A fun and feisty tour of big, powerful and fascinating machines; each of them is ready, willing and eager to “go to work.” Low, the author/illustrator of the New York Times Best Illustrated Book Old Penn Station (2007), employs handsome and painterly computer-generated art to move the text along. Pleasingly onomatopoetic effects mimic the machine sounds: “Gzzzzzzzzzk!” or “HONK! HONK!” Exciting two-page spreads pose a question—“Is there an accident ahead?”—and expand with gatefolds to answer it, revealing in turn a back hoe, cement mixer, fire truck, helicopter, mega tow truck, tugboat and container ship at work. In an exciting climax, a double-gatefold opens to reveal a wonderful four-page spread of a freight (“CLICKETY-CLACK, CLICKETY-CLACK, CLICKETY-CLACK...”) train chugging away into the distance as it grows smaller and smaller within a bold expansive landscape. The illustrations have a bright, active and brushy effect, and they incorporate a pleasing palette that is heavy on bold primary colors. Low knows what works for kids who like their machines big and busy. (Picture book. 2-6)