Terry Trackhoe is the smallest digger on the construction site and he makes mischief with mud. He and his forklift friends annoy the fearsome Bullydozer who threatens revenge. After working for months to install a water reclamation pipe, the whole crew is tired and anxious to get home to the maintenance yard. When Lazy Larry forgets to tie him down to a trailer, Terry has a wild ride and falls off onto a country road, at night with a dark Florida forest surrounding him. Mama and Papa Trackhoe realize he's missing and a herd of construction equipment rushes to the rescue, putting out a forest fire along the way. They discover that Bullydozer isn't so bad after all and Terry isn't the baby they thought he was.TERRY TRACKHOE GOES MISSING is a fictional early chapter book geared for read-aloud to the youngest readers up to self-reading by third- or fouth-graders (8- to 9-years-old). It's supplemented with a glossary and a non-fiction essay about wastewater treatment for advanced readers. Target audience is active little boys and their fathers, but mothers and daughters will appreciate the positive roll portrayed by several female characters. Environmental themes are an important part of the story. Vivid illustrations by Carmelo L. Monti, AIA bring Terry and his fellow machines alive with action and adventure. To see photos of the construction equipment that inspired him, visit www.terrytrackhoe.com.
