The Horn Book Guide

PRESCHOOL

Mandel, Peter

Jackhammer Sam

40 pp. | Roaring Brook | November, 2011 | Trade ISBN 978-1-59643-034-1 $16.99

(2) PS Illustrated by David Catrow. Sam describes his work in bursts of rhymed couplets: "ATTA-RATTA-BATTA-BLAM, I'm the sidewalk blasting man!" As his tall tale grows, Sam's jackhammering goes from stopping traffic to drilling a giant's tooth and draining the Milky Way. Mandel's text, punctuated by onomatopoeia and nonsense words, is as loud and brash as Catrow's cartoon-style illustrations or, for that matter, a jackhammer.

Reviewer: Kathleen T. Horning | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2011