Review by Booklist Review
This engaging picture book about trucks, teamwork, and a try, try again philosophy begins on the endpapers at a construction site. Then readers are introduced to Digger, the smallest in a fleet of anthropomorphized vehicles bearing simplified but emotive faces. Digger, the smallest, and his projects don't always go as planned (tots will relate). One day, there is, so it appears, one tiny rock left. Digger tries to free it but can't. His face reflects consternation, he even breaks a sweat. The other trucks order him out of the way so they can try, but, no more successful, they give Digger one last shot. Illustrations feature bold black outlines and bright blocks of color that match well the playful text that ranges across the pages. Onomatopoeia and other key phrases appear in larger font for emphasis. Bash! Brrrm! Heave! Fun!--McDermott, Jeanne Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Onomatopoeia and large, colorful illustrations of simple rounded shapes outlined with thick black lines will be enjoyed by children fascinated with construction equipment. Finished with work for the day, Digger, a small backhoe, cannot rest for the night until he makes the site safe by digging up one last, lone rock. While diligently attempting to unearth the stubborn stone-"perspiration" actually flies off him-larger machines declare they are more experienced and will tackle the job. After they fail, Digger, with encouragement from his friend, dump-truck Tom, tries again and ultimately saves the day by removing the soil around the stone, which is then lifted by the truck crane and carried away by Tom, while the bulldozer, steamroller, and demolition vehicle smooth the ground. Each machine has a mouth and two round eyes that reveal a variety of emotions. This "all's well that ends well" tale is similar in scope to Stephen Savage's Little Tug (Roaring Brook, 2012), but the focus is on teamwork here rather than just the smallest one making the biggest impact. Use with Sally Sutton's Demolition (Candlewick, 2012) for a construction storytime theme.-Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Undersized Digger seeks to prove himself to the bigger, stronger trucks when they find a rock in the ground; he succeeds thanks to some encouragement from his friend, dump truck Tom. Though the story's message about friendship is too obvious, the simple black lines and pure colors of Braun's illustrations make this an ideal visual introduction to construction vehicles. (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A little digger that could shows the other construction equipment that even though he's small, he can get the job done. In a construction-truck reprise of his Toot and Pop! (2012), Braun introduces readers to the small backhoe ("Hello, Digger!"), whose "helping" doesn't "always go quite as planned." But this three-page introduction seems not to relate to the story that follows. Digger and Tom, the dump truck, are working together to clear the construction site of one last rock. But Digger is having a hard time of it--it is larger than it looked at first. When the other trucks arrive, they deride his efforts, telling him to step aside and see how it is done. But they get their comeuppance--Basher can't smash it, Roland can't flatten it, Chuck can't bulldoze it, and Grabber can't get a purchase on the rock. While the others are on a break, Tom and Digger exchange sly looks, and Tom encourages the little guy to try again. Of course, he succeeds, and the other trucks acknowledge him, and everyone pitches in to finish the site. Braun's illustrations portray anthropomorphized construction vehicles whose simple, sometimes sweaty (!) faces convey their emotions: frustration, effort, satisfaction, pride and exhaustion. Simple backgrounds keep the focus on the trucks and their relationships. Not as strong as either Toot and Pop! or The Little Engine that Could, but truck lovers will be well satisfied. (Picture book. 3-6)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
