Know a kid who names their stuffed animals “Excavator”? Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night (2014) is their dream book. Fans of Sherri Duskey Rinker’s Construction Site series will love this twist—it’s like Goodnight Moon with hydraulic jokes. The rhymes stick in your head (spoiler: parents start reciting them at gas stations). Lovelock’s art? Pure nostalgia with a wink. See that grader snuggling a blanket made of road signs? Chef’s kiss.

Teachers swear by it. “I use it to teach ‘heavy machinery’ versus ‘quiet time,’” says Mr. Lee, a pre-K teacher in Ohio. At home, expect toy dump trucks parked by pillows for weeks. Bonus: Spot the crane’s mismatched socks on page 9—kids LOVE finding them.