It's Cement Mixer's first day on the job and he doesn't want to make any mistakes. How can he help the other trucks on the construction site? By mixing some powdery white cement, of course! He mixes it up, adds a little water, and presto . . . a cake?! He must have mixed flour instead of cement. Not to worry, he'll try again . . . and presto! Frosting?! He'll keep trying until he gets it just right and it's time for one more mixing: a bubble bath! PreS-Gr 1—First days can be challenging. Playing on words, this picture book shows that this is true even for cement mixers—sometimes they mix things up while mixing things up. When this cement mixer starts at the construction site, all the other smiling trucks are busy: lifting, dumping, digging. "How can I help?" asks the cement mixer. "Mix up some powdery white cement," the trucks tell him. The page turn finds the cement mixer beaming proudly outside a giant flour mill. The other trucks lose their smiles when they later discover a cake instead of cement. The next white powder that the cement mixer tries comes from the sugar factory and becomes frosting. The book is smartly designed, and the refrain gives nothing away ("The cement mixer mixed up the white powder, added a little water, and presto!"), while the visuals, through signage, show the cement mixer's mistakes, with the results revealed after the page turn. Background colors depict the passing of the day, and as the sun sets, the cement mixer finally ends up at the factory with the "cement" sign. The next page shows all the happy trucks admiring a new building. The cement mixer has one final stop before ending the day—the soap factory. A giant citywide bubble bath leaves all the trucks clean and ready for a good night's sleep in the garage. Geometric art in bright, flat colors pops from the pages, as do the engaging personalities of the trucks. Through it all, the cement mixer remains determined, and upon the book's close, it seems likely that tomorrow will be a smoother day. VERDICT This tale's tight plot and winsome characters serve the dual purpose of exploring the world of vehicles and emphasizing the rewards of perseverance. A surefire storytime selection.—Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA "Savage ( Supertruck ) creates a sunny cast of vehicular characters, and his brief text is equally upbeat, punctuated by fun repetition (“presto!” is also used ironically to herald the cement mixer’s mishaps), and a play on words involving mix-up and mixed up." Publishers Weekly, starred "The book's thematic elements―trucks and food and mastery of a skill―are well-pitched to a very young audience."―Kirkus Reviews "This tale’s tight plot and winsome characters serve the dual purpose of exploring the world of vehicles and emphasizing the rewards of perseverance. A surefire storytime selection."―School Library Journal "An imaginative picture book for young truck fans to enjoy."―Booklist Stephen Savage is a New York Times- bestselling children’s book illustrator and author whose accolades include a New York Times Best Illustrated Book ( Polar Bear Night ), a Geisel Honor ( Supertruck ), and a Sendak Fellowship. In addition to books, he has illustrated for the New York Times , the Wall Street Journal, Time, Newsweek , and Entertainment Weekly . He’s taught illustration at the School of Visual Arts since 2001 and lives in Brooklyn with his wife, daughter and their dog.