The hero of this high-octane tale sports a toothy grin, a sassy attitude, and a "specialized, maximized, giant-sized loader bucket." Readers will easily forgive Backhoe Loader's boastful ways as they accompany him on rounds of hauling items like "cat-clawed couches" and mucking about in the mud. When he uproots a tree stump, he makes guttural sound effects children will love to echo: "Ugh! Arrrrrrrgh! Tim-berrrrrrrrr! So long, Stumpster!" From the pair that created I Stink!, this is another raucously fun heavy-equipment story brought to life with vibrant illustrations. (Ages 4 to 6)
Child magazine's Best Children's Book Awards 2006
Publishers Weekly
As they did in I Stink! and I'm Mighty!, these creative collaborators introduce a spunky anthropomorphic character in this case a backhoe loader who relishes his dirty work. "Who's got a boom, a dipper stick, and a bucket with a row of chompers? Me! And that's just my rear end," he announces proudly. After a flatbed truck carries him to a lot filled with discarded items, the backhoe digs in with gusto, providing an alliterative countdown as he cleans up 10 torn-up truck tires, nine fractured fans, eight busted beach umbrellas, etc. "Hope ya like noise," he says gleefully, as he drops his load in a dumpster, creating quite a din ("Clank! Bang! Bong! Clunk!"). The cheerful, chatty fellow then uproots a tree stump ("Aw Stumpie loosen up") and fills in the hole, a job he deems a "piece of cake. Make that a mud cake with dirt sprinkles and a scoop of Rocky Road." After taking a mud bath and flattening out the lot, the machine, much to his delight, is dirty indeed. Energetic illustrations capture these mucky goings-on with a large dollop of humor, as type of varying sizes cavorts playfully across the pages. Abundant sound effects make this a high-spirited read-aloud. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Children's Literature - Kathleen Karr
From the team that brought youngsters the award-winning ode to garbage trucks, I Stink!, comes the logical follow-up-a paean to Mr. Backhoe Loader. After the McMullans get to work, no one will ever again consider this piece of roadside equipment lowly, or—heaven forbid—ugly. He is one tough dude. Little boys will love this bright, noisy story that is chock full of attitude. The reissue comes courtesy of the book's new packaging with an addition, a Read-Along CD. Normally this reviewer is leery of such recordings on the general principle that toddlers need to be read to by genuine, human caretakers (preferable of the parent variety) so as not to destroy the entire warm and fuzzy purpose of picture books. However, this rendition by the venerable Weston Woods folks includes an interview with the McMullans and just happens to be read by Steve Buscemi, who owns the perfect gravelly first-person voice. Really, how can one resist? Reviewer: Kathleen Karr
Children's Literature - Ken Marantz
Here comes the big backhoe loader: "Who's got a BOOM, a dipper stick, and a BUCKET with a row of chompers? ME! And that's just my REAR end." With wide eyes and a grin, the loader blasts across the pages and goes to work cleaning up a mess and counting as it goes, then banging it all into the dumpster. On he goes to a dirtier job, digging out a stump, then a mud bath with a happy sigh. "I love my work." Then it is out of the mud, filling a hole, smoothing it out. Everything is cleaned up, but he is DIRTY. As he cheerily signs off, he wishes readers a "dirty day!" Vigorously outlined in black, the anthropomorphic machine convinces us of his joy in bashing and smashing. The impressionistic action scenes make use of typefaces that not only change size for emphasis, but also vary in color as they swoop across some pages or "clank, rattle, bang" as the junk is scooped up and dumped. The loader just about convinces us that it is great to be dirty. An amusing and involving worthy addition by the creators of I'm Mighty! and I Stink!
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 2-With a style familiar to fans of I'm Mighty! (2003) and I Stink! (2002, both HarperCollins), McMullan introduces a sassy backhoe loader who relishes his dirty job. He brags about his equipment and then heads to work, where he cleans up an abandoned lot. "Cleaning up this mess? Easy as pie. Make that a MUD pie." Counting down from 10 to 1, the backhoe removes the alliterative trash: "4 cat-clawed couches," "3 scuffed-up signs," "2 tossed-out toilet seats," "1 wonky washing machine." Then, he pulls out a tree stump, takes a mud bath, and back-drags his bucket over the dirt. Throughout the story, the machine becomes progressively dirtier, with a repeating motif of mud. The text flies about the pages, changing size, shape, and orientation. With its saucy tone and dynamic color cartoon illustrations, this picture book exudes energy.-Suzanne Myers Harold, Multnomah County Library System, Portland, OR Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
From the creators of I Stink! (2002) and I'm Mighty! (2003) comes Backhoe Loader, a construction vehicle that is ready for business. Its backside contains a boom, a dipper stick, a bucket and some pretty sharp teeth, and its front features steel arms, hydraulic rams and a giant ladder bucket. Initially spotless, Backhoe Loader is transported to his destination via flatbed truck and quickly gets to work cleaning up a junkyard. After all the tires, bicycles, couches, toilet seats and even a washing machine are collected and placed in a dumpster, it's time to get really dirty. Backhoe Loader pulls up a tree stump, takes a mud bath, fills in a hole, and smoothes it all out. Now the lot is sparkling clean, and Backhoe Loader is anything but. Readers will delight in the jaunty backhoe and appreciate his gruff silliness. Full of kid appeal, this is sure to be a favorite with reluctant readers, those who revel in mud and all who love trucks. (Picture book. 4-8)
