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.
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)
OCT/NOV 08 - AudioFile
With a digger in back and a bucket up front, there’s not a task this backhoe doesn't find "as easy as (mud) pie." Following a celebrated line of McMullan hard-working vehicles (a tugboat and a garbage truck), this dude is ready for duty—whether scooping up, dumping in, pulling out, or cleaning up. Steve Buscemi narrates with gusto, delighting in the escapades of this vehicle. His boisterous enthusiasm is in perfect sync with the text—both the words and the illustrations. Jaunty music underscores the animated adventures. The recording includes an interview with the McMullans, who share tidbits about the creation of the story. A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
