The classic folk song gets a construction vehicle themed twist in this peppy offering. Opening with the expected farmer and his wife, both white-haired and overalls clad, and the familiar refrain, the next page reveals that, on his farm, he had not an animal but an "EXCAVATOR!" Indeed, the farmer supervises pigs in hard hats ("With a DIG DIG here and a DIG DIG there") as the bucolic setting becomes a building site, with bulldozer, motor grader, steamroller, and more filling the lyrics. Eventually, the final result is unveiled: a track amid the fields, with bleachers with animal and human onlookers to watch the farmer and his wife zip along in their souped-up monster truck. Vibrant gouache-and-pencil illustrations incorporate stylized and cartoon elements with witty details, while the text encourages lively sing-alongs, though the rhythm doesn't always flow smoothly given the multisyllabic vehicles. A fun, entertaining intersection of song and topic that both respective fan bases ought to enjoy.

PreS-Gr 1 A new twist on a classic story and song, this book is just pure fun. All readers know about Old MacDonald and the things on his farm. But they will love the new toys he has in this tale. All the usual animal friends are present in the illustrations, but he's also got excavators, bulldozers, and dump trucks. The lyrics of the song may have a nonsense-type flow, but that will make singing/telling the story that much more fun. The illustrations are rich and tell as much of the story as the text does. Gender roles are slightly flipped, as Old MacDonald's partner in the book is a woman who clearly knows her way around the farm and a steamroller, too. This is a book that could be used to teach a multitude of lessons.