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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sherri Duskey Rinker
OccupationWriter
LanguageEnglish
GenrePicture book, middle grade fiction
Notable works
  • Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site
  • Steam Train, Dream Train
[1]
Website
www.sherririnker.com

Sherri Duskey Rinker is an American children's author from Illinois. Her works include the picture-book series Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site and Steam Train, Dream Train, and the middle-grade novels Revver the Speedway Squirrel and Revver the Speedway Squirrel: The Big Race Home.[2][3]

Biography

[edit]

Rinker worked as a graphic designer before becoming known for children's books.[2] In a 2013 interview, she cited childhood bedtime reading with her grandmother and Virginia Lee Burton's The Little House as early influences.[4] Rinker lives in St. Charles, Illinois.[5]

Career

[edit]

The idea for Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site grew out of a bedtime routine with one of Rinker's sons, who was interested in trucks.[2][4] In fall 2009, Chronicle Books editor Mary Colgan found Rinker's unagented manuscript in a stack of submissions and acquired the book; Tom Lichtenheld was later selected as illustrator.[2] Chronicle published Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site in 2011.[2]

Rinker and Lichtenheld next collaborated on Steam Train, Dream Train, published by Chronicle in 2013, and later returned to the construction theme with Mighty, Mighty Construction Site, published in 2017.[2] Publishers Weekly reported in 2017 that Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site had sold 1.3 million copies and had led to novelty spin-offs and a board-book edition.[2] In 2022, Axios reported that the Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site series had sold more than five million copies and that the original book had stayed on The New York Times bestseller list for five years.[6] On its 2019 National Book Festival author page, the Library of Congress described Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site, Steam Train, Dream Train, Mighty, Mighty Construction Site, and Construction Site on Christmas Night as No. 1 New York Times best-sellers.[1]

Rinker's work also includes standalone picture books and books outside the Construction Site series. In 2016, she published Silly Wonderful You, illustrated by Patrick McDonnell, and she later published titles including The 12 Sleighs of Christmas, illustrated by Jake Parker, and Tiny and the Big Dig, illustrated by Matt Myers.[7] In 2017, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt published Big Machines: The Story of Virginia Lee Burton, a picture-book biography written by Rinker and illustrated by John Rocco.[8]

Later entries in the Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site series were illustrated by AG Ford, including Construction Site on Christmas Night, Construction Site: Three Cheers for Kid McGear!, and Construction Site Mission: Demolition!.[9][10]

In 2020, Rinker moved into middle-grade fiction with Revver the Speedway Squirrel, illustrated by Alex Willan and published by Bloomsbury Children's Books.[11] The sequel, Revver the Speedway Squirrel: The Big Race Home, was published in 2021.[12] In 2022, she began the Roto and Roy picture-book series, illustrated by Don Tate, with Roto and Roy: Helicopter Heroes, published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.[13]

Awards and honors

[edit]
Year Award or honor Category Work Result Ref.
2011 The New York Times Notable Children's Books Picture books Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site Selected [14]
2011 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards Picture Books (Children's) Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site Finalist [15]
2012 Association for Library Service to Children Notable Children's Books Younger readers Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site Selected [16]
2013 School Library Journal Best Books Picture books Steam Train, Dream Train Selected [17]
2013 Chicago Public Library Best Picture Books Picture books Steam Train, Dream Train Selected [18]
2017 Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices Picture-book biography Big Machines: The Story of Virginia Lee Burton Selected [19]

Works

[edit]

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site series

[edit]

Picture books

[edit]
Year Title Illustrator Publisher Notes
2011 Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site[20] Tom Lichtenheld Chronicle Books Picture book
2017 Mighty, Mighty Construction Site[21] Tom Lichtenheld Chronicle Books Picture book
2018 Construction Site on Christmas Night[22] AG Ford Chronicle Books Picture book
2019 Construction Site: Three Cheers for Kid McGear![23] AG Ford Chronicle Books Picture book
2020 Construction Site Mission: Demolition![24] AG Ford Chronicle Books Picture book
2021 Construction Site: Road Crew, Coming Through![25] AG Ford Chronicle Books Picture book
2022 Construction Site: Farming Strong, All Year Long[26] AG Ford Chronicle Books Picture book
2023 Construction Site: Taking Flight![27] AG Ford Chronicle Books Picture book
2024 Construction Site: Garbage Crew to the Rescue![28] AG Ford Chronicle Books Picture book
2026 Construction Site: Firefight![29] AG Ford Chronicle Books Picture book
2026 Construction Site: Dad and His Crew Power Through![30] AG Ford Chronicle Books Picture book
[edit]
Year Title Illustrator Publisher Notes
2017 Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site: Let's Go![31] Tom Lichtenheld Chronicle Books Board book
2018 Cement Mixer's ABC[32] Ethan Long; based on illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld Chronicle Books Board book
2018 Dump Truck's Colors[33] Ethan Long; based on illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld Chronicle Books Board book
2019 Excavator's 123[34] Ethan Long; based on illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld Chronicle Books Board book
2019 Bulldozer's Shapes[35] Ethan Long; based on illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld Chronicle Books Board book
2019 Crane Truck's Opposites[36] Ethan Long; based on illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld Chronicle Books Board book
2021 Construction Site Merry and Bright[37] AG Ford Chronicle Books Lift-the-flap book
2022 Construction Site Spring Delight[38] AG Ford Chronicle Books Lift-the-flap book
2022 Construction Site Gets a Fright![39] AG Ford Chronicle Books Lift-the-flap book
2022 Construction Site: You're Just Right[40] AG Ford Chronicle Books Lift-the-flap book
2024 Construction Site: A Thankful Night[41] Helen Morgan Chronicle Books Lift-the-flap book
2025 Construction Site Hanukkah Lights[42] Shawna J. C. Tenney Chronicle Books Lift-the-flap board book
2026 Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site Sticker & Activity Book[43] Helen Morgan Chronicle Books Sticker and activity book

Steam Train, Dream Train series

[edit]
Year Title Illustrator Publisher Notes
2013 Steam Train, Dream Train[44] Tom Lichtenheld Chronicle Books Picture book
2016 Steam Train, Dream Train 1-2-3[45] Tom Lichtenheld Chronicle Books Board book
2016 Steam Train, Dream Train Colors[46] Tom Lichtenheld Chronicle Books Board book
2025 Steam Train, Dream Train: Next Stop, Christmas![47] AG Ford Chronicle Books Picture book

Roto and Roy series

[edit]
Year Title Illustrator Publisher Notes
2022 Roto and Roy: Helicopter Heroes[48] Don Tate Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Picture book
2023 Roto and Roy: To the Rescue![49] Don Tate Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Picture book

Revver the Speedway Squirrel series

[edit]
Year Title Illustrator Publisher Notes
2020 Revver the Speedway Squirrel[50] Alex Willan Bloomsbury Children's Books Middle-grade novel
2021 Revver the Speedway Squirrel: The Big Race Home[51] Alex Willan Bloomsbury Children's Books Middle-grade novel

Other books

[edit]
Year Title Illustrator Publisher Notes
2016 Silly Wonderful You[52] Patrick McDonnell Balzer + Bray Picture book
2017 Big Machines: The Story of Virginia Lee Burton[53] John Rocco Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Picture-book biography
2017 The 12 Sleighs of Christmas[54] Jake Parker Chronicle Books Picture book
2018 Tiny and the Big Dig[55] Matt Myers Scholastic Press Picture book
2019 Celebrate You![56] A. N. Kang Balzer + Bray Picture book
2020 How to Put an Octopus to Bed[57] Viviane Schwarz Chronicle Books Picture book
2021 It's So Quiet: A Not-Quite-Going-to-Bed Book[58] Tony Fucile Chronicle Books Picture book
2022 Joy Ride[59] Ana Ramírez González Candlewick Press Picture book

Adaptations and other media

[edit]

Weston Woods Studios adapted Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site as an animated short and audio recording in 2012, narrated by Dion Graham with music by Jon Carroll.[60][61] Oceanhouse Media released interactive storybook-app editions of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site and Steam Train, Dream Train.[62][63]

Bay Area Children's Theatre adapted the book as Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site-The Musical, with book, music, and lyrics by Austin Zumbro. The production won six 2016 Theatre Bay Area Awards, including Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Direction of a Musical, and Outstanding World Premiere Musical.[64] In 2019, Bay Area Children's Theatre presented Construction Site on Christmas Night, a musical with book and lyrics by Min Kahng and Austin Zumbro and music by Daniel Mertzlufft, based on Rinker's book illustrated by AG Ford.[65]

Actor Chris Evans read Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site on the BBC children's program CBeebies Bedtime Stories in 2017.[66] In 2022, Caterpillar released "Cat Trial 13: Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site", a live-action branded video that used Caterpillar equipment to portray the book's construction vehicles and was narrated by Matt Dillon.[67][68]

In 2019, San Antonio councilman John Courage used the title "Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site" for a proposal to limit overnight construction noise near homes; the city council approved related code changes in 2022.[69][70]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 "Sherri Duskey Rinker". Library of Congress. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Lodge, Sally (14 February 2017). "Rinker and Lichtenheld Build on 'Construction Site' Success". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  3. ↑ "Revver the Speedway Squirrel: The Big Race Home". Bloomsbury Publishing. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Meet Sherri Duskey Rinker". Fairytale Town. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  5. ↑ Ford, Anne (24 September 2019). "Making Kids' Books From Construction Sites". Chicago. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  6. ↑ Mooney, Michael (12 September 2022). ""Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site" comes to life". Axios. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "Books by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Complete Book Reviews". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  8. ↑ Lodge, Sally (24 August 2017). "A Trio of Fall Titles Celebrates Virginia Lee Burton's Rich Legacy". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  9. ↑ "Construction Site Mission: Demolition!". Kirkus Reviews. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  10. ↑ "Construction Site: Three Cheers for Kid McGear!". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  11. ↑ Lodge, Sally (29 September 2020). "Four Questions for Sherri Duskey Rinker". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  12. ↑ "Revver the Speedway Squirrel: The Big Race Home". Bloomsbury Publishing. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  13. ↑ "Roto and Roy: Helicopter Heroes". Publishers Weekly. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  14. ↑ "Notable Children's Books of 2011". The New York Times. 4 December 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  15. ↑ "Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site". Foreword Reviews. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  16. ↑ "Goodnight, goodnight, construction site". American Library Association. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  17. ↑ "SLJ Best Books 2013 Picture Books". School Library Journal. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  18. ↑ "Best Picture Books of 2013". Chicago Public Library. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  19. ↑ "Big Machines: The Story of Virginia Lee Burton". Cooperative Children's Book Center. University of Wisconsin-Madison. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  20. ↑ "Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  21. ↑ "Mighty, Mighty Construction Site". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  22. ↑ "Construction Site on Christmas Night". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  23. ↑ "Construction Site: Three Cheers for Kid McGear!". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  24. ↑ "Construction Site Mission: Demolition!". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  25. ↑ "Construction Site: Road Crew, Coming Through!". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  26. ↑ "Construction Site: Farming Strong, All Year Long". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  27. ↑ "Construction Site: Taking Flight!". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  28. ↑ "Construction Site: Garbage Crew to the Rescue!". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  29. ↑ "Construction Site: Firefight!". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  30. ↑ "Construction Site: Dad and His Crew Power Through!". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  31. ↑ "Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site: Let's Go!". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  32. ↑ "Cement Mixer's ABC". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  33. ↑ "Dump Truck's Colors". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  34. ↑ "Excavator's 123". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  35. ↑ "Bulldozer's Shapes". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  36. ↑ "Crane Truck's Opposites". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  37. ↑ "Construction Site Merry and Bright". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  38. ↑ "Construction Site Spring Delight". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  39. ↑ "Construction Site Gets a Fright!". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  40. ↑ "Construction Site You're Just Right". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  41. ↑ "Construction Site A Thankful Night". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  42. ↑ "Construction Site Hanukkah Lights". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  43. ↑ "Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site Sticker & Activity Book". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  44. ↑ "Steam Train, Dream Train". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  45. ↑ "Steam Train, Dream Train 1-2-3". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  46. ↑ "Steam Train, Dream Train Colors". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  47. ↑ "Steam Train, Dream Train: Next Stop, Christmas!". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  48. ↑ "Roto and Roy: Helicopter Heroes". Book Depot. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  49. ↑ "Roto and Roy: To the Rescue!". Hachette Book Group. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  50. ↑ "Revver the Speedway Squirrel". Bloomsbury Publishing. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  51. ↑ "Revver the Speedway Squirrel: The Big Race Home". Bloomsbury Publishing. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  52. ↑ "Silly Wonderful You". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  53. ↑ "Big Machines: The Story of Virginia Lee Burton". Cooperative Children's Book Center. University of Wisconsin-Madison. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  54. ↑ "The 12 Sleighs of Christmas". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  55. ↑ "Tiny and the Big Dig". Scholastic Canada. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  56. ↑ "Celebrate You!". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  57. ↑ "How to Put an Octopus to Bed". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  58. ↑ "It's So Quiet". Chronicle Books. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  59. ↑ "Joy Ride". Penguin Random House. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  60. ↑ "Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site". School Library Journal. 1 March 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  61. ↑ Williams-Wood, J. (11 March 2013). "Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site". Video Librarian. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  62. ↑ "Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site". School Library Journal. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  63. ↑ Gershowitz, Elissa (23 July 2015). "Steam Train, Dream Train app review". The Horn Book. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  64. ↑ Cristi, A. A. (6 December 2016). "BACT Wins Six Theatre Bay Area Awards, Including Outstanding World Premiere Musical". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  65. ↑ Cristi, A. A. (15 November 2019). "Hear A New Song From Construction Site on Christmas Night Opening Saturday In Sunnyvale". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  66. ↑ Sandwell, Ian (1 June 2017). "Captain America star Chris Evans will be reading another CBeebies Bedtime Story". Digital Spy. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  67. ↑ Mooney, Michael (12 September 2022). ""Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site" comes to life". Axios. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  68. ↑ Santiago, Arturo (7 September 2022). "(VIDEO) The making of Cat Trial 13 "Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site"". Heavy Equipment Guide. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  69. ↑ Lodge, Sally (22 August 2019). "A Real-Life Interpretation of 'Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site'". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  70. ↑ Brnger, Garrett (17 February 2022). "San Antonio limits construction noise with 'goodnight, goodnight construction site' ordinance". KSAT. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
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