School Library Journal - 11/01/2011 PreS-Gr 3—In the mold of Kate and Jim McMullan's I Stink (HarperCollins, 2002), this is an oversize, onomatopoeia-filled vision of the construction worker who wields the jackhammer. The constant "atta-ratta-tatta" rhythm of the rhyming text matches the frenetic energy of Catrow's comical illustrations, full of scratchy lines and people so caricatured that they border on the grotesque. Jackhammer Sam brags about the power his percussive drill gives him as he sends people, baby carriages, even cars and buildings flying into the air, and he presents himself as a tall-tale hero: "My hammer drilled a giant's tooth" and "broke th' break of day." Sam is a caricature himself, with a big belly that he rests on his jackhammer while reading a book. With its ceaseless rhythm, the story begs to be read aloud, making this a useful book for community helpers, city, and noise themes.—Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD - Copyright 2011 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.