Elvis the Bulldozer

I wrote Elvis the Bulldozer in 1995. I had high hopes; I thought it might be the beginning of a huge franchise. I envisioned Elvis kiosks in bookstores, and whole toy departments devoted to insuring my children’s future wealth. Somehow I overestimated, and I’m left with this rather good story for 4-7 year olds about a bulldozer who is expelled from the garden where he works and sent out into the world where he must (and does) earn his redemption. I must be crazy because I am currently working on another Elvis story.

 

Elvis Title Page: Heavy metal titles are very cool.End papers: Cherry trees are central to the story. I first drew this one in the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.Big Machines: Elvis sees these machines and wonders if he should leave the garden and join them.The Crash: One of the keystone illustrations of the book. It illustrates that flying, especially flying backwards, is not advisable for a bulldozer.March of the Bulldozers: The bulldozers sing this song as they go: "A bulldozer bulls, and a bulldozer dozes. So get out of our way, we don’t smell like roses..."Elvis in the Snow: Elvis is sold to the Renegade Road Company. He is given the lowly job of pushing the garbage. He suffers.Elvis Cover Art: Original wrap around cover art of Elvis at work.The Storm: Elvis piles cut logs against the overflowing dam. He works through the night to save the day.

Copyright 2018