(Reviewed with Bulldozer Goes to School by Elise Broach) Bulldozer (or “B”) is a childlike construction vehicle with a (white) human family. Happy with his home routine, B is anxious about starting school in the fall and making friends. In Bulldozer’s Big Rescue, his mother gives him some cookies for the new neighbors. B is paralyzed with fear—they’re strangers! What will he say? Thankfully, the Patels (Indian American) warmly welcome him, although Bulldozer “feels insulted” when their son, Jay, wants B to give him a ride on his blade. (“He is so much more than a truck.”) Reluctantly, B gives Jay a ride while sister Millie walks beside him. When a cat darts in front of B, he slams on the brakes! The frightened cat scales a tree, and B, now in way deeper than he wanted with this social errand, finds a way to save the day while also extending his emotional boundaries. In Bulldozer Goes to School, B has a rough first day in the classroom. He can’t sit crisscross applesauce and doesn’t know what to share during Circle Time. He makes a mess while trying to clean up, and then he accidentally backs into a table and breaks it. Discouraged, B joins Millie and Ryan (white) for imaginary play during recess and is pleased when his earth-moving abilities improve the landscape for their fort. Plentiful pencil illustrations with gray and yellow shading accompany these universal stories about social anxiety.

From the award-winning team who created Masterpiece comes a charming chapter book about a young bulldozer who is nervous about making friends and starting school.

★ "Broach and Murphy rev up for a promising new series…. An enthralling tale about doing the heavy lifting of making friends." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"This sweetly simple story addresses sometimes-challenging issues surrounding meeting new people with a light and understanding touch, and expressive drawings with muted orange accents bring Bulldozer and his world to life.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Broach offers young readers a compassionate tale about the jitters that often accompany starting school and cultivating new friendships… A touching story of overcoming social fears, perfect for early chapter book readers or those younger to read with a loved one.” – School Library Journal

Bulldozer is shy when it comes to making new friends and nervous about starting school. But when he meets his new neighbor Millie and her little brother Jay, Bulldozer embarks on a daring adventure to rescue a stranded cat. With the help of his own machinery—and a plate of freshly baked cookies—Bulldozer overcomes his fears just by being himself.

The beloved team of Elise Broach and Kelly Murphy are back with a compelling new series about an endearing bulldozer living in a human world. Each book contains five chapters, perfect for emerging readers learning how to read on their own.