If you know a kid who rates books by how many shovels they contain (Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion rates surprisingly high using this method), this list is for you.
Did you know the Montclair Library Children’s Room has a special section just for transportation books? If you have a kid who can’t get enough trains, trucks or diggers, head straight for the books on top of the bookcase by the door to the YA area (above the “C” picture books). You’ll find many of the books on this list shelved with the transportation books instead of in their regular alphabetical or numerical spot.
The dirty dozen:
Dig! by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha (J PICBK ZIMMERMAN) – Follows Mr. Rally and his dog, Lightning, as they travel the town on a big yellow digging machine, taking care of five important jobs.
Digger Man by Andrea Zimmerman & David Clemesha (J PICBK ZIMMERMAN) – A young boy imagines how he will use his digger to make a park where he and his little brother can play. (This book makes a great gift for a new big brother, btw.)
Dig, Dig, Digging by Margaret Mayo (J 629.225 MAYO) – Simple rhymes introduce various large vehicles, such as dump trucks, fire engines, and tractors, and describe the work that they do.
Digger Dog by Cecilia Johansson (J PICBK BEE) – Digger Dog loves to dig up bones, the bigger the better. But for the biggest bone in the world, what will Digger Dog need? The biggest digger in the world, of course! All through the story, the diggers get bigger, the hole gets deeper, and there is a fantastic fold-out surprise at the end.
Sam & Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett (J PICBK BARNETT) – Sam and Dave are digging a hole. They will not stop until they find something spectacular.
Phoebe and Digger by Tricia Springstubb (J PICBK SPRINGSTU) – When Mama got a new baby, Phoebe got a new digger. But when a big girl snatches Digger away from Phoebe at the park, will Phoebe ever get her digger back? This book manages to deal with sibling rivalry and bullying in a tender but light-hearted way – and it features a girl who likes to play with trucks.
Tip, Tip, Dig, Dig by Emma Garcia (J PICBK GARCIA) – Describes how various earthmoving trucks clean up a dump and make a playground, discussing what such machines as diggers, mixers, bulldozers and cranes can do.
Dig, Dogs, Dig: A Construction Tail by James Horvath (J PICBK HORVATH) (not at Montclair) – A busy crew of dogs digs, hauls, pushes, plows and brings in a crane to build a new park.
Good Morning, Digger by Anne Rockwell (J PICBK ROCKWELL) – Digger, Dump Truck, Cement Mixer and their friends each do their part to build a community center.
Digger, Dozer, Dumper by Hope Vestergaard (J 811.6 VESTERGAA) – Rhymes and colorful illustrations invite young readers to meet their favorite trucks and vehicles face-to-face.
The Digging-est Dog by Al Perkins (J READER PERKINS) – Scorned by his dog friends because he never learned to dig, Sam discovers his inherent dog talent and turns the countryside into a series of ruts and holes.
Digger and Tom! by Sebastien Braun (J PICBK BRAUN) – The building site will not be ready until one last rock is removed, and although the big machines all have a go at it, only Little Digger has what it takes to get the job done.
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