To little Alex, his dad has the most exciting job in the world: he’s an engineer on a nighttime construction project. Not only does his dad get to stay up all night, he has close contact with bulldozers, excavators, cement mixers, cranes, and loaders. So when Alex’s dad gives him his very own hardhat and lets him come to work with him one night, it’s a dream come true! Astute readers may surmise that Alex’s night on the construction site is indeed a dream, and that Alex’s “night work” is that of all young children--to get a good night’s sleep. But the lyrical words and the boldly colored paintings provide enough detail for a literal interpretation as well, so that young construction enthusiasts will not feel the least bit cheated, and the close‑up illustrations of heavy machinery at work will thrill them. Kate Banks and Georg Hallensleben once again combine their considerable talents to create a poetic, multilayered story set firmly in the province of early childhood. Winner, 2001 Charlotte Zolotow Award (Ages 2‑5)

Going to the job site with Dad

When darkness falls and bedtime comes, Papa tucks Alex in, then puts on his hard hat and goes to work. Papa is an engineer who works at night. "Take me with you," Alex says. "Not tonight," says Papa. But one night Papa has a surprise -- a hard hat for Alex! He takes Alex with him to the construction site, where excavators rumble and cement mixers hum. As his dream comes true, Alex gets to be a night worker just like Papa. Kate Banks's evocative text and Georg Hallensleben's colorful paintings combine to make a unique bedtime book that will delight all children, especially those who are fascinated by big machines.

The Night Worker is a 2001 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.