Dump Trucks--and the other titles in the Seedlings series (Bulldozers; Diggers; and Cranes)--exemplifies standout nonfiction for young children. The text works well both for those who are beginning to read and for parents and teachers to read aloud. Bright, crystal-clear photographs of bigger-than-houses dump trucks aptly support the text and will delight readers of all ages. In one, a man stands next to a tire twice as tall as he is.
The book identifies key vocabulary--such as "bed" and "rubble"--in different-colored print (e.g., "A dump truck has a big bed"), and their definitions appear in a "Words to Know" section at the back of the book. The back matter also includes a labeled diagram of a dump truck, plus a "Read More" page that offers books, websites and an index. A perfect book and series for those who are fond of facts and big machines. --Allie Jane Bruce, children's librarian, Bank Street College of Education