Tiny and the Big Dig

Rinker (Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site) moves from hard-at-work vehicles to an equally determined canine in a very earnest story about a dog who refuses to listen to others' negative opinions. Tiny, a brown and white pup, sends dirt flying as he digs in search of a bone: "A big, big bone! I know it's there!/ It'll take some work, but I don't care!" Despite other animals' naysaying ("Oh, Tiny, stop! You're far too small./ There's nothing in that hole at all"), Tiny digs on, and his grit (both literal and metaphorical) comes through in Myers's high-spirited ink-and-watercolor cartoons. Eventually, Tiny uncovers several bones--among them a fish bone and a trombone--before hitting pay dirt: a dinosaur skeleton that cheerfully follows him home in a peculiar closing gag. There's no missing the message about persistence, but Rinker's verse is leaden and even unclear at times ("Woo-hoo! Hooray! Yay! Yay! Yippee!/ And now you see how it could be"). And it's not always readily apparent which character is talking--all of the text appears in the same black font, sans quotation marks. Ages 3-5. Illustrator's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Jan.)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 2--Tiny is a small brown, black, and white pup with big plans. He smells a buried bone and is bound and determined to unearth it, much to the chagrin of a blue bird, a tabby cat, and a large white dog. They take turns telling Tiny to give up as he's too weak and too little to succeed: "Oh, Tiny, stop! You're far too small. There's nothing in that hole at all." The only ones who believe in Tiny and his never-give-up enthusiasm are the dog himself and his owner, a young boy. Written in singsong rhyming verse, the story goes a bit long and verses don't always scan well. Plenty of white space allows ink-and-watercolor cartoon art to stand out, revealing Tiny and the hole he's digging from a variety of perspectives. The child and several animals, including Tiny, speak in the text but determining who is talking can be difficult. VERDICT An additional purchase with a solid message. For the classic story of determination in the face of adversity The Little Engine That Could is still a crowd-pleaser.--Maryann H. Owen, Oak Creek Public Library WI

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Praise for Tiny and the Big Dig

"The singsong writing and upbeat message make this uplifting underdog tale a shoo-in for storytimes." — Booklist


Praise for Sherri Duskey Rinker's Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site

* "Fun, rhyming text, cleverly personifying each truck with expressive eyes and amusing details." —School Library Journal, starred review

"A great read-aloud story as you are settling your child in for the night." — About.com

"A delightful debut." — The New York Times

* "A standout picture book." — Booklist, starred review


Praise for Matt Myers's Pirate's Perfect Pet

* "Luscious, thickly painted illustrations look as if they've been frosted. " — Publishers Weekly, starred review


Praise for Matt Myers's A Is for Musk Ox

"Comical illustrations take this book to a high level. The illustration quality even makes 'musk ox' tags appear to be 3-D." — Children's Literature