Tonka: Working Hard with the Mighty Dump Truck

I bought this book many years ago for my first son who is now 11. He loved everything construction. The book didn't get much use by my second son, the "artist", but now my third son at the age of 3 loves it and everything construction as well. It's funny how I remember using the same inflections to read this to my first son ten years ago. It's a great tool in helping my 3 year old want to learn to read. I hear him in the backseat of the car looking at the pictures and practically reciting the story word for word. I plan to invest in other Tonka truck books.

The first thing my son Devon sees when I pick up The Mighty Dump Truck book to read to him is the huge tires on the truck on the cover. He says, "Big tires." And I say, "How Big." And he spreads his arms wide, palms facing me, all ten tiny fingers extended and says, "Way big." And let me tell you, those tires are way big. Devon loves to listen as we read along about Dan the Dump Truck Driver, we call him Driver Dan, and I must admit that I have been known to make up words as I slowly finger through the pages. Driver Dan fuels his own truck, drives it to the construction site, where we see front end loaders and backhoes and graders and a whole lot of activity. We see Dan fill up a big hole with dirt from his dump truck, we see the cement mixer pour cement on top of the dirt. Devon always wants to know what is down in that hole and I have lots of fun making up different answers. This is a good book for you if you have a little boy at home. Not only does Tonka make terrific toys, but they make great children's books as well.

My son has had this book for 3 years. It is still a favorite. We read it often, and I look forward to the day he can read it to me.

My two year old and my four year old absolutely love this book. I read this every day to them. They have learned so much from this book about construction equipment. It is an absolute must for every "future dump truck operator"!