Story Summary
Big trucks finish a busy day and get ready for bed in this story of settling in for a night’s rest.
Talk Before Reading
The title–Good Night, Good Night, Construction Site–leaves no doubt that you are about to read a bedtime story. Look at the cover with your child before you start to read the story.
What do you see in this picture that reminds you of night time?
He might notice the moon, stars, or the dark sky. If needed, draw his attention to these signals of night in the picture. Talk about what you see outside when night time comes to your neighborhood.
Talk While Reading
Crane truck, Cement Mixer, Dump Truck, Bulldozer, and Excavator. The young lover of trucks to whom you read this story may surprise you by already knowing the difference between a crane truck and a bulldozer–or these words may be completely new.
Using detailed names (dump truck, crane truck, cement mixer)–instead of only a general term (truck)– builds vocabulary and background knowledge. Good Night, Good Night, Construction Site is a wonderful example of the natural and gentle use of specific vocabulary in a picture book.
Maybe you never gave much thought to the difference between a bulldozer and an excavator? Not to worry. The pictures are clear; by the end of the book, you (and your child) will know the difference!
Talk Later
Toy Talk. Your child may recognize that he has one or more of the Good Night, Good Night trucks in his toy box. Use the specific truck name when talking about these toys
I think your bulldozer is under the couch. Can you drive it out?
Pattern Talk. Patterns of language found in picture books can be pulled out and repurposed. Each segment in Good Night, Goodnight, Construction Site ends with the same soothing pattern:
Shh…goodnight, [truck name], goodnight.
After reading this story at bedtime, it’s the perfect opportunity to connect the words of the story to your listener by using his or her name in the same bedtime phrase:
Shh…goodnight, Marcus, goodnight.
Book
Good Night, Good Night, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld. Chronicle Books. 2011.
