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Pigs Dig a Road
A rhyming picture book featuring pig construction workers that's perfect for fans of Good Night, Good Night, Construction Site.
In her workshop, late one night, Rosie plans by hardhat light a brand-new road from here to there to reach the Hamshire County fair.
Construction crew chief Rosie and her team are building a new road to the Hamshire County Fair. It’s time to put on hard hats and boots, grab their hammers and stakes, and, of course, bring out the big trucks: bulldozers, excavators, pavers, rollers, and more!
Unfortunately, work with Rosie’s crew doesn’t always go as planned, and Curly, Pinky, and Stinky end up making one huge mess. Rosie is there to save the day, but she can’t do such a big job all by herself. The county fair is starting soon, and there’s only one way to get the road done on time . . . teamwork!
In her workshop, late one night, Rosie plans by hardhat light a brand-new road from here to there to reach the Hamshire County fair.
Construction crew chief Rosie and her team are building a new road to the Hamshire County Fair. It’s time to put on hard hats and boots, grab their hammers and stakes, and, of course, bring out the big trucks: bulldozers, excavators, pavers, rollers, and more!
Unfortunately, work with Rosie’s crew doesn’t always go as planned, and Curly, Pinky, and Stinky end up making one huge mess. Rosie is there to save the day, but she can’t do such a big job all by herself. The county fair is starting soon, and there’s only one way to get the road done on time . . . teamwork!
48 pages, Hardcover
Published September 10, 2024
2 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Finison
11 books93 followersCarrie Finison began her literary career at the age of seven with an idea, a box of markers, and her father’s typewriter. She has been writing off and on ever since, though she has (somewhat regretfully) traded in the typewriter for a laptop. Her picture books include DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS, illustrated by Brianne Farley (Putnam, 2020) - a Junior Library Guild selection; DON'T HUG DOUG, illustrated by Daniel Wiseman (Putnam, 2021) - an ALA Notable Children's Book; LULU & ZOEY: A SISTER STORY, illustrated by Brittany Jackson (Running Press Kids, 2022); HURRY, LITTLE TORTOISE, TIME FOR SCHOOL, illustrated by Erin Kraan (Random House Studio, 2022). Her latest picture book is PIGS DIG A ROAD (Putnam, 2024) She lives outside Boston with her husband, son, daughter, and two cats who permit her to write in their cozy attic office. Find her online at http://www.carriefinison.com or on Instagram @CarrieFinson. Subscribe to her occasional newsletter for events, giveaways and more: http://www.carriefinison.com/newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
October 11, 2024
Construction pigs? You bet! This crew not only delights with antics, energy, humor, and heart but slides in a bit more knowledge on how roads are created.
The fair is coming, and Rosie realizes that there will have to be a road to make sure the visitors can get there. Bright and early, she sits down and drafts the plans. After printing, she wakes her crew, and they are off to get the project done. From marking to measuring, from digging to road grating, every step needs to be completed, one after the other. But mistakes, a bee, and other unexpected issues might put a wrench in their plans.
While young construction, tractor, and building fans are obviously going to enjoy this one, other readers will also get caught up in the fun. These pigs are on a mission, and they know what they are doing. Well, at least, Rosie does. The text flows along with enjoyable rhyme and keeps the plot clear and moving, while the illustrations add havoc, lightness, and play. This is a busy crew, whose determination inspires and will have readers wanting to jump in and build the road, too. There's never a boring moment, and the tale packs more than a couple surprises, guaranteeing that it isn't a mundane read.
Humor mixes well into the hard work, and the illustrations do a lovely job at adding the right details to make every scene sit. It's smile-worthy just to gaze at them to see what's happening, since there is quite a bit going on.
But my favorite aspect of this read is the construction information. It goes through the general flow of steps in creating a road. From planning to painting, the various steps and machinery demonstrate how much work and time (and care) goes into a road. Don't expect details, though, because that's not what this one is about (and wouldn't fit the age group, either). It sticks to basis knowledge, and that works wonderfully. All along, the energy and humor hold strong to create a fun read, which will have listeners smiling and giggling, too.
The fair is coming, and Rosie realizes that there will have to be a road to make sure the visitors can get there. Bright and early, she sits down and drafts the plans. After printing, she wakes her crew, and they are off to get the project done. From marking to measuring, from digging to road grating, every step needs to be completed, one after the other. But mistakes, a bee, and other unexpected issues might put a wrench in their plans.
While young construction, tractor, and building fans are obviously going to enjoy this one, other readers will also get caught up in the fun. These pigs are on a mission, and they know what they are doing. Well, at least, Rosie does. The text flows along with enjoyable rhyme and keeps the plot clear and moving, while the illustrations add havoc, lightness, and play. This is a busy crew, whose determination inspires and will have readers wanting to jump in and build the road, too. There's never a boring moment, and the tale packs more than a couple surprises, guaranteeing that it isn't a mundane read.
Humor mixes well into the hard work, and the illustrations do a lovely job at adding the right details to make every scene sit. It's smile-worthy just to gaze at them to see what's happening, since there is quite a bit going on.
But my favorite aspect of this read is the construction information. It goes through the general flow of steps in creating a road. From planning to painting, the various steps and machinery demonstrate how much work and time (and care) goes into a road. Don't expect details, though, because that's not what this one is about (and wouldn't fit the age group, either). It sticks to basis knowledge, and that works wonderfully. All along, the energy and humor hold strong to create a fun read, which will have listeners smiling and giggling, too.
October 4, 2024
When my son was little, he loved construction books. I can only wish that PIGS DIG A ROAD by @carriefinison and @brianbiggsstudio was around back then because he would have loved it. The story features a quartet of pigs building a new road to the county fair. It has the mesmerizing mechanics of a how a road is built (like Sally Sutton’s classic ROADWORK) as well as the humorous fun of car travel (like Richard Scarry’s CARS AND TRUCKS AND THINGS THAT GO). Plus it’s written in Carrie Finison’s flawless rhyme. (Also the endpapers are 😍)This one’s a must for all bookshelves.
December 1, 2025
Such a delightful, joyful, and rhythmic read-aloud! The author Carrie Finsion wrote this fun and silly rhyming story about 4 piggies working together to dig, pave, and paint a road just in time for the county fair! It shows kids just how important planning, communication, focus, and follow-through are for any task in an unassuming and extremely adorable way. Brian Briggs's charming illustrations will really tickle anyone's heart who adores animals, pigs, trucks, and construction sites!
October 16, 2024
Appreciate the use of the word excavator and not digger.
October 3, 2024
Funny and fun but with a message for the over-doers and control freaks among us - get some rest sometimes! Perfectly rhymed and with a heartfelt, satisfying ending.
January 4, 2025
A group of pigs build a road.
One competent pig and three less than competent ones build a new road to the county fair. Rosie, the mastermind behind the project, has to keep fixing her team’s mistakes. Finally, she falls asleep from exhaustion, and Curly, Pinky, and Stinky must complete the project without her help.
The illustrations were done in Procreate using an Apple pencil and feature black outlining against negative space.
Young readers who like construction equipment will enjoy this book. And readers who have been forced to pick up the slack for lower performing teammates and do the jobs of others in addition to their own will relate to Rosie’s experience.
This story features the comic ineptitude/humorous incompetence trope.
This story also reflects the short-sighted American tendency to simply build new roads instead of repairing existing ones. This is bad policy for several reasons: 1) it is bad land use, 2) it destroys natural land and farmland, 3) it destroys people’s homes and business as well as damaging and displacing communities, 4) it disrupts ecosystems and destroys habitats, 5) it causes increased pollution, 6) it is cost ineffective because it costs more to build new infrastructure than to repair existing infrastructure, 7) it creates a future financial liability for maintenance and repair that is part of the local and state tax burden with little available federal funding available for repair, 8) it increases the amount of infrastructure that needs to be maintained, 9) it increases the heat island effect because pavement absorbs heat and re-emits heat, which contributes to climate change and the impending climate catastrophe, 10) it creates induced demand for driving and increases car volume, and 11) it increases car-dependence and further prioritizes private vehicles as the dominant form of transportation.
A simple intro would have fixed these negative aspects of this book: something along the lines of 'The road to the fair is in need of repair. / The work must start right away to be ready for opening day.'
Why didn’t the pigs repair the original road to the fairgrounds, which would have enabled essentially the exact same plot line? This is probably due to a phenomenon known as "car brain," which is a cultural bias pervasive in the United States. It may also be because new projects are popular and because clear-cutting and leveling a new area is logistically simpler than repairing and replacing an existing one despite the increased financial, human, and environmental costs. There is also the added problem that everyone wants to build, but no one wants to maintain.
One competent pig and three less than competent ones build a new road to the county fair. Rosie, the mastermind behind the project, has to keep fixing her team’s mistakes. Finally, she falls asleep from exhaustion, and Curly, Pinky, and Stinky must complete the project without her help.
The illustrations were done in Procreate using an Apple pencil and feature black outlining against negative space.
Young readers who like construction equipment will enjoy this book. And readers who have been forced to pick up the slack for lower performing teammates and do the jobs of others in addition to their own will relate to Rosie’s experience.
This story features the comic ineptitude/humorous incompetence trope.
This story also reflects the short-sighted American tendency to simply build new roads instead of repairing existing ones. This is bad policy for several reasons: 1) it is bad land use, 2) it destroys natural land and farmland, 3) it destroys people’s homes and business as well as damaging and displacing communities, 4) it disrupts ecosystems and destroys habitats, 5) it causes increased pollution, 6) it is cost ineffective because it costs more to build new infrastructure than to repair existing infrastructure, 7) it creates a future financial liability for maintenance and repair that is part of the local and state tax burden with little available federal funding available for repair, 8) it increases the amount of infrastructure that needs to be maintained, 9) it increases the heat island effect because pavement absorbs heat and re-emits heat, which contributes to climate change and the impending climate catastrophe, 10) it creates induced demand for driving and increases car volume, and 11) it increases car-dependence and further prioritizes private vehicles as the dominant form of transportation.
A simple intro would have fixed these negative aspects of this book: something along the lines of 'The road to the fair is in need of repair. / The work must start right away to be ready for opening day.'
Why didn’t the pigs repair the original road to the fairgrounds, which would have enabled essentially the exact same plot line? This is probably due to a phenomenon known as "car brain," which is a cultural bias pervasive in the United States. It may also be because new projects are popular and because clear-cutting and leveling a new area is logistically simpler than repairing and replacing an existing one despite the increased financial, human, and environmental costs. There is also the added problem that everyone wants to build, but no one wants to maintain.
April 28, 2024
Carrie Finison has written a delightful rhyming story about cooperation, community, respect, the importance of sleep (lol!), and teamwork! It gives children a window into the way something we all take for granted (the elements required to put in a road) and brings it to life in a fun, engaging, and read-out-loud kind of way. I can imagine kids gleefully taking hold of the book to read it to their parents. Finison flips the old-school rep of pigs (3 little pigs, this little pig went to the market, et al) as being weak and shows them to be-yes, silly-but still with the capacity to become responsible thinkers deserving of respect. Brian Biggs’ illustrations give these piggies such personality...just beware of bees!
November 14, 2024
In this fun and silly rhyming story, construction crew chief Rosie and her crew are in charge of creating a road to get to the county fair.
Rosie sets right to work creating plans and getting organized all through the night. Then when morning hits the crew is off!
Working together is great but the rest of the crew seem to encounter more than a few problems that Rosie has to iron out. Towards the end of the day she is exhausted and falls asleep.
But wait the road isn’t completely done! Without Rosie’s direction will the other pigs be able to finish up the project?
This is a great story about friends working together and helping each other out. A perfect read aloud for bedtime or any time of day!
Rosie sets right to work creating plans and getting organized all through the night. Then when morning hits the crew is off!
Working together is great but the rest of the crew seem to encounter more than a few problems that Rosie has to iron out. Towards the end of the day she is exhausted and falls asleep.
But wait the road isn’t completely done! Without Rosie’s direction will the other pigs be able to finish up the project?
This is a great story about friends working together and helping each other out. A perfect read aloud for bedtime or any time of day!
September 10, 2024
"Wake up, pigs. There's work to do!"
Rosie and her crew in PIGS DIG A ROAD are the perfect choice for a construction-themed storytime or any young truck enthusiasts. With beautifully bouncing rhyme and an engaging plot line, Carrie Finison's text is perfectly paired with Brian Bigg's engaging pigs as they build a road to the county fair. Thoroughly researched and accurately depicted construction vehicles and road-building techniques will enthrall readers who pore over such details, while the overall message of teamwork and collaboration are enthusiastically embraced. Don't miss this entertaining and empowering pick!
Rosie and her crew in PIGS DIG A ROAD are the perfect choice for a construction-themed storytime or any young truck enthusiasts. With beautifully bouncing rhyme and an engaging plot line, Carrie Finison's text is perfectly paired with Brian Bigg's engaging pigs as they build a road to the county fair. Thoroughly researched and accurately depicted construction vehicles and road-building techniques will enthrall readers who pore over such details, while the overall message of teamwork and collaboration are enthusiastically embraced. Don't miss this entertaining and empowering pick!
December 18, 2024
Construction silliness with a quartet of pigs. Rosie is the team lead, with the plan and the know-how to do each job right. Her crew are well intentioned, but mess everything up! Rosie goes behind them to fix, until she is so worn out she falls asleep before the last step of the project! Will the crew wake her up? How will they know what to do? Spoiler alert: they figure it out and check their work to complete the job. So fun, with great artwork of four distinct pigs. I am not sure if I could share the tale of Rosie, Curly, Pinky, and Stinky in storytime without feeling like all the adults are silently snickering, but I do love this one.
August 4, 2025
Where do I even start with what I love here? The pigs are named Rosie, Curly, Pinky, and Stinky. They are building a road to the Hamshire County Fair. There's not much time--and the crew, well--they tend to go a bit...hog wild. Still, crew chief Rosie keeps them (with much effort) on task and schedule--until, suddenly, she can no longer. What will happen now? (And, in one of my favorite wordplay bits, will the Eager Beavers be able to use the road?)
This action-packed, rhyming, engagingly-illustrated porcine charmer is really fun, but also a great example of the best and worst aspects of groupwork--perfect to read and discuss before early elementary group-based school projects!
This action-packed, rhyming, engagingly-illustrated porcine charmer is really fun, but also a great example of the best and worst aspects of groupwork--perfect to read and discuss before early elementary group-based school projects!
April 5, 2024
If you aren't already a huge fan of Carrie Finison, be sure to check out her other books too (Don't Hug Doug is A++ for me!)
This is SUCH a perfect story on so many levels. Kids will love all the details about roads-- something kids are on almost every day, but don't know that much about how they are made. The pigs have fun personalities (and illustrations--that moustache!) and poor Rosie-- girl, I can relate! The rhyming is impeccable as are the fun and funky illustrations. My favorite part is when Pinky intervenes-- a great reminder for kids (and parents).
This is SUCH a perfect story on so many levels. Kids will love all the details about roads-- something kids are on almost every day, but don't know that much about how they are made. The pigs have fun personalities (and illustrations--that moustache!) and poor Rosie-- girl, I can relate! The rhyming is impeccable as are the fun and funky illustrations. My favorite part is when Pinky intervenes-- a great reminder for kids (and parents).
April 12, 2024
This book is SO MUCH FUN! Our porcine heroine is an excellent leader, directing her pig construction crew to build a new road before the Hog County fair. Perfect rhymes, and bouncy stanzas make the reader honk, dig, and drive through this story as if we're right there. It's as exciting and full of bloops and disasters, as it is adorable--ending in the perfect, oh-so-fun, and satisfying way. Enthusiastic readers will beg for rereads, and pore over each page to discover so many fun details in the energetic art. It's a winner. Highly recommend this!!
April 13, 2024
What a fun and accessible way to learn about roads! Young readers learn all about what it takes to build a road while having a good time with hardworking pigs (especially Rosie!). "Wake up, pigs. There's work to do!" Using rhyming text, readers learn all about digging, excavating, the gradder, the paver, and all other parts of construction. I love the character of Rosie and really appreciate how the book teaches the value of teamwork. With expressive and funny illustrations, Pigs Dig a Road is an educational and engaging book.
August 9, 2024
What a fun read aloud, with spot-on rhymes, word play, lively illustrations, and entertaining pig characters! When Rosie gets too tired from all her planning and road-building work, her fellow pigs let her sleep and get the rest of the job done. The message of working together, problem solving, and sharing burdens comes across in a relatable, funny way for kids. Truck-loving readers will enjoy learning about the work that excavators, front-end loaders, compactors, and dump trucks do to create a new road. The story comes to a satisfying conclusion with a job well done and a celebration at the fair.
August 14, 2024
I had the privilege of reading an advance copy of Pigs Dig a Road, and you know what? As much as I try to avoid terms like "instant classic," this book indeed felt like an instant classic! Carrie Finison's rhyming, rollicking text and Brian Biggs's charming illustrations play perfectly off one another, and there's some clever humor for grownups, too. A perfect selection for a construction-themed story time in any school or library, hand this book to fans of Richard Scarry and Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site.
March 2, 2025
Exactly the kind of book I would have loved as a child. The illustrations are adorable and fun. Finison's rhyming text flows and reads aloud well. The characters are so well-intentioned -- they remind me of kids doing their best. Of course, the crew makes inevitable mistakes, but they rise to the occasion when their exhausted leader (who fixed all their mistakes) literally falls asleep on the job. Very cute story with a delightful happy ending. Will be irresistible to children who love construction vehicles.
March 8, 2025
Pigs Dig a Road is a clever rhyming book by Carrie Finison that follows Construction crew chief Rosie and her team (the most adorable pigs!) as they attempt to build a road to get to the Hamshire County Fair. Kids will learn about construction terminology/the construction process while being entertained. The bright, fun illustrations by Brian Biggs give Richard Scary vibes. With a message of teamwork and perserverance as well as fun rhyming couplets (i.e. hammer/clamor) and charming pig names (i.e. Pinky, Stinky) parents and kids will both dig Pigs Dig a Road.
April 15, 2024
Pigs Dig a Road is a delightful rhyming story about four pigs constructing a roadway to the county fair. There is so much information about how roads are built and kids will be fascinated by all the different steps and the machinery that's used. I also love the message about teamwork and helping each other. Rosie, the crewchief, boosts her workers' morale which helps to bring out their best when she really needs them. The wordplay and rhyme are spot on and the illustrations are adorable.
August 31, 2024
This is for the kids who always want to stop and watch worksites in progress. The fair is coming and a new road needs to be built in this adorable picture book. The pigs need to work together through the ups and downs of the construction process to get the road done in time. Told in rhyming lines and playful illustrations, this works as a read aloud or as a lap book for any child who adores construction trucks.
October 6, 2024
Construction equipment! Teamwork! Shenanigans!
Rosie, Curly, Pinky, and Stinky have a job to do. While all the pigs are enthusiastic, only Rosie follows the construction plans. When Rosie falls asleep from exhaustion, the other pigs must pick up where she left off. Carrie Finison's delightfully snappy rhymes are paired with Brian Biggs's cheerful illustrations. This book is great for anyone who likes excavators, compactors, and hard hats.
Rosie, Curly, Pinky, and Stinky have a job to do. While all the pigs are enthusiastic, only Rosie follows the construction plans. When Rosie falls asleep from exhaustion, the other pigs must pick up where she left off. Carrie Finison's delightfully snappy rhymes are paired with Brian Biggs's cheerful illustrations. This book is great for anyone who likes excavators, compactors, and hard hats.
November 20, 2024
PIGS DIG A ROAD is a fun read-aloud that's perfect for construction-loving kiddos. Rosie, Curly, Pinky, and Stinky must work together to complete the new road before the fair. With each step in the plan, they learn the importance of sharing the load and helping each other out. The illustrations pair perfectly with the text, and the animals are adorable! My 3yo son has asked me to read this book to him every night for the past three weeks. We love it!
January 24, 2025
This fun rhyming story hums along even when things go wrong - and they do! Who knew paving a road to the fair could be so hard? It probably has something to do with the ragtag group of pigs who unwittingly and hilariously undermine leader Rosie's best efforts. Ultimately, they pull together as a team and everyone gets to go to the fair. Would love to see what other adventures this group of plucky pigs get up to!
July 11, 2025
PIGS DIG A ROAD is a sweet and humorous story about four pig construction workers who showcase the importance and rewards of teamwork when things go wrong. It’s packed with fun construction site related action, engaging illustrations and perfect, fun rhymes. What saves the day for everyone are the thoughtful gestures by the crew members, who find redemption after their mistakes by being most considerate and thoroughly following the team’s plan.
September 22, 2025
this book was interesting from an adult point of view - the forepig? I guess was female and the male pigs were clueless and needed to be told what to do - BUT when the forepig was too exhausted and fell asleep because she was responsible for everything - some how the dude pigs were able to get stuff done.....
was this supposed to be a cautionary tale about the mental load? or just a fun pigs doing construction book??
was this supposed to be a cautionary tale about the mental load? or just a fun pigs doing construction book??
August 5, 2024
Little truck lovers will rejoice at this clever, rhyming story about a construction crew of pigs digging a road. Active illustrations showcase the hardworking and industrious crew on the job. Lessons about teamwork and friendship add to the learning. I loved the adorable endpages that show the pig characters on various trucks. Kids will want to read this book again and again.
August 9, 2024
I absolutely ADORE this fun, energetic story about… pigs digging a road! This story about teamwork and helping out friends in need is perfect for truck and construction-equipment obsessed kids (My sons would have absolutely LOVED this book when they were little!). It is told in energetic and rollicking rhyme, making it a fantastic read-aloud, and the illustrations have a fantastic retro comics/Richard Scarry vibe, which is just adorable. Can’t recommend enough!
September 20, 2024
A wild romp through the engineering process -- from design to construction -- with lots of hilarity along the way highlighted by Brian Biggs' humorous illustrations. Finison incorporates a subtle girl power theme as Rosie takes the lead. Your kids will love this book! Let's hope these pigs star in another book soon.
Read
October 8, 2024This was a unique book. It shows one pig doing too much, only one pig who is on the whole time. But it's great to see that even when that pig is done, the others can come to the rescue. Realistic that the other pigs can suddenly get their act together? Eh, I don't know, but I don't think this book is going for realistic. It is pigs building a road after all.
February 5, 2025
This book is written with impeccable rhyme and meter, making it a fun and smooth read. Kids will delight in the construction theme and appreciate the kind, hard-working characters. Teamwork and collaboration are a major part of this book, and it's wonderful to see the characters staying upbeat and on task, even when mistakes are made. Great book all around.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews