Concrete Trucking; Dig Hole, Build House

Ever wonder how concrete is made? Put your mind at ease, watch Concrete Trucking. Then you'll discover that limestone, sand, water, and gravel are mixed together in a giant mixing bowl (a.k.a. a concrete mixing truck). Viewers will see rock being reduced to rubble via the explosion of many sticks of dynamite (shown over and over again for instant replay buffs), truck loaders scooping up sand, the inside of a mixer (which kind of looks like the inside of a blender making strawberry daiquiris, only it's gray instead of red), and workers pouring foundations and repairing a section of road. The background music which alternates between the very similar sounds of country bluegrass and big band swing is a little strange, but seems to work overall. Those of you with insatiable Tonka addicts slavering for more truck videos can safely add this one, aimed at ages 3-8. Recommended.One use for concrete, of course, is in home construction: as in dig hole, pour concrete foundation, and build house. Dig Hole, Build House shows viewers just how the foundation is poured and shaped, and follows workers through each stage in the building of a home. Joe, the builder, and Susan the architect introduce the program with an awkward you-are-there framing device which doesn't work well. But the majority of the program is given over to footage of guys and gals raising walls, shooting nails, and plastering joints. Going beyond the construction of the bare house, the video shows plumbers and electricians installing appliances and wiring, and informs us that toilets do not come to the house pre-assembled (now, admit it: you thought they did). While I Can Build! (VL-1/95) is more kid-oriented, it focuses on a playhouse as opposed to a family house. For an overview of how home builders put together a large house from scratch, Dig Hole, Build House is a good choice. Recommended for ages 3-8. (R. Pitman)