You can do a lot with the right machinery, and the boy in this happy book has everything from a snowplow and a loader to a cement mixer and a dump truck. Never mind that his heavy equipment are toys. His vivid imagination turns them into the real thing. The boy has much to do throughout the year, such as plowing roads and building sidewalks. But his work is a joy, because he does it to show his mother how much he loves her. This charming picture book by Jean Patrick, illustrated by Karen Dugan, introduces children to a wide range of machinery, while conveying a loving theme that makes it a perfect book for children and parents to read together. reS-Gr 1-In short vignettes, this caring and clever book tells the story of a boy's love for his mother as seen through his play with his toys. Each spread begins with "If I had a-" (truck, tractor, cement mixer, bulldozer, etc.) and tells what the boy would do for his mother. ("If I had a loader, you know what I'd do?/I'd feed the cattle, just for you-.") The art and the story line form a beautiful montage; each text box is set in an arched frame with the month of the year and an illustration of a toy at the top, accompanied by a larger illustration of the boy playing with the vehicle described. The framed picture on the facing page depicts the vision the words describe. The realistic and yet imaginary style of the art really captures the text. Each vignette is touching and shows the child interacting with the mother. His growth throughout the year and the joy and love shared between parent and child make this a special book. It is great for one-on-one reading, and offers a new twist on the ever-present need for more truck books. JoAnn Jonas, Chula Vista Public Library, San Diego, CA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Jean L.S. Patrick is the author of The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth. She lives in Mitchell, South Dakota. Karen Dugan is the illustrator of several books for children, including Shooting Star Summer by Candice F. Ransom, Tea Party Today: Poems to Sip and Savor by Eileen Spinelli, and Bicycle Riding and Other Poems by Sandra Olson Liatsos. She lives in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Used Book in Good Condition