Three Cheers for Kid McGear!

PreS-Gr 1–A skid steer named Kid McGear introduces herself to a group of construction vehicles. She is eager to learn and offers to help them. At first, the vehicles don’t think she is strong enough to lend a hand clearing the construction yard. Kid McGear hears a yelp and notices an excavator in big trouble. The perspective of the book’s illustrations changes throughout the narrative, shifting between landscapes, aerial views, and close-ups among others. This feature of the narrative gives it the feeling of constant movement. The book’s construction site characters have vehicle parts which are slightly morphed to give them an animated and lively quality. They also have cheerful and interesting facial expressions. Secondary and neutral colors are consistently used to give the book an earthy look and feel. There is a consistent use of browns and oranges, which work to direct readers’ focus to the construction site. Rinker’s text has a fun rhyming style throughout and its placement on the page directs readers to move their eyes and follow the action.