Digby O'Day and the Great Diamond Robbery

Digby O'Day #2

by Shirley Hughes, Clara Vulliamy (Illustrator)

Put on your detective hat for the second adventure from a dynamic mother-daughter team: beloved author Shirley Hughes and talented illustrator Clara Vulliamy.

Digby and Percy, best friends forever, have decided to take a vacation by the sea. Little do they know they’re about to drive right into another daring adventure! No sooner do they arrive at the Hotel Splendide when a very important guest—the fabulous pop star Peaches Meow—discovers that her priceless diamond necklace is missing. Can Digby and Percy track down the sinister figures at the heart of the mystery?

Genres: Chapter Books, Childrens, Fantasy, Animals, Mystery, Fiction, Middle Grade

136 pages, Hardcover

First published July 31, 2014

About the author

Shirley Hughes is the illustrator of more than two hundred children’s books and has won many prestigious awards, including the Kate Greenaway Medal twice. She is the author-illustrator of DON'T WANT TO GO! and OLLY AND ME 1 2 3. She died at her home in London on the 25th of February, 2022.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What fun! I absolutely adore the illustrations by Vulliamy -- they are full of British charm and wit and a delightful old-fashioned-ness without seeming a bit stodgy.

This is a fast-paced mystery-adventure and such fun to read -- just the right amount of excitement and drama without being to overwhelming or scary for young readers.

Vulliamy is Hughes' daughter and I love that they teamed up on these books together. The back matter has a cute little interview with the duo.

Note that this series appears to have been published in England with the title character as DIXIE O'Day and there are more books in the series across the pond than were published here in the US. A shame, as I would love to get my hands on the entire series. My seven-year-old loved this, too.

[Katey Lovell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am beyond excited that the next Dixie book has finally ventured out into the big wide world. My son and I read the first in the series, Dixie O'Day in the Fast Lane last year and fell in love with Dixie and his sidekick Percy. It's no exaggeration to say this has been one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year in our house, and I don't just mean by Zachary!

Everything we liked about the first book is back. Lovable characters- check. High drama-check. Beautiful illustrations- check. Additional extras, maps to envisage the places in the story, chapters which are perfect in length and substance- check, check, check.

However, there are enough changes to distinguish Dixie O'Day and the Great Diamond Robbery from what has gone before. The holiday setting worked well and Peaches Miaow is the ultimate in glamorous- my son developed quite the soft spot for her. I also felt the 'baddies' were just naughty enough without being nightmare-inducing and of course they get their comeuppance in the end.

The vocabulary in the book will stretch most children in the target market, introducing new words to expand their language development. There are humorous elements and a moral message. It is all round good old-fashioned fun, and the wonderful illustrations bring the text to life. The illustration on page 99 of Percy and Peaches is my ultimate favourite- utterly simplistic but beautifully evocative- I want a larger version of it for my wall!!!

Overall, we were not disappointed. The only disappointment came when we finished it at break-neck speed and we realised we had a long wait for the next Dixie adventure!

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to find the rest of this series in our library system and Violet and I both enjoyed the action in the story in this one (bad kitties! stolen diamonds! secret passageways!) and of course the clever illustrations (the bathtub otter car makes a cameo!). I especially appreciated all the little extras like the maps in the front and back, and the quiz about details of the story. I love Vulliamy’s retro style, but my one suggestion would be that I’d really like to see some ethnic diversity in the characters drawn.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute read

[blueisthenewpink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kicsit mintha döcögne itt-ott a szöveg, főleg az elején. Az „útpatkányok” szót még nem hallottam, de szerintem más sem. (Igen, az én háromévesem is azt magyarázta, hogy felmentünk a patkányra, miután az útpadkára csattantunk. De hát na. A gugli 3, azaz három darab találatot ad, abból az egyik gyerekszáj, a másik poén, a harmadik elválasztás: alag-útpatkány.) Viszont nem láttam benne egyetlen hibát vagy elütést sem, amit mostanában ritkán mondhatok el. Nagyon izgalmas is, nem csoda, hogy a hét és fél éves le sem akarta tenni. Kevés szöveg, sok kép, kizárólag szürke és piros árnyalatokban. Kezdő olvasóknak tökéletes.

[DuPar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is this first book that G (7 year old girl, second child) has wanted to read out loud to the family! Digby O'Day and his sidekick Percy go to the seaside for a restful vacation. When a car passes them on the road, their adventures begin. They might be the only detectives that can find popstar Peaches Meow's stolen necklace.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is quaint and charming. Digby and Percy go to stay at a hotel to get some rest and relaxation, but a pop star is staying at the hotel. Then her expensive necklace goes missing. Can Digby solve the mystery? This was enjoyable.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to be friends with Digby and Percy! The illustrations are just as enjoyable as the text.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the story about happening with Digby and Percy . Very cute illustrations and map.

[Dan Hyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good starting chapter book. My 5 year old girls enjoy it. It's long enough that I split reading it into 2 evenings.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute with lots of action and mystery. I know just the kids to recommend this to.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small book big words
But interesting

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun for young readers!!

[Sharon Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Digby O'Day and the Great Diamond Robbery is a children’s chapter book written by Shirley Hughes, and illustrated by Clara Vulliamy. This is the second book about the adventures of Digby and his best friend Percy, but the books do stand on their own. This time Digby and Percy are off on a special vacation by the sea, but instead of the relaxation they expect, they find themselves in the midst of a grand adventure involving a pop star, a stolen necklace, and exploring caves with a new friend.

Digby O'Day and the Great Diamond Robbery is a great adventure for young readers. So many books for new readers are overly simple or silly, but this series is smart and interesting. Zigby has no interest in pop stars, although Percy is more than a little awestruck. The pair walk the scenic routes, making a new local friend. When the pop star is robbed the friendly pair accidentally stumble across the solution to the mystery of the stolen necklace. Once again their good natures and honesty serves the pair well and they are significantly rewarded for their positive traits.

Digby O'Day and the Great Diamond Robbery is another early chapter book that offers readers an interesting, solid story paired with a lesson in being a good person. I would definitely recommend this book for young readers as well as more advanced readers that want to enjoy the tale.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mother-daughter team of author Shirley Hughes and illustrator Clara Vulliamy offers their second adventure featuring Digby and his best friend and sidekick Percy. Though on vacation, the duo are soon in the middle of a mystery involving a pop star, stolen necklace, and exploration of caves. Young readers will enjoy the likeable, engaging characters and the perfect plot pacing. The humor and moral message will resonate with the volume’s intended audience.

The early chapter book will appeal to young readers as well as more advanced readers, and is generously illustrated throughout. The story stands on its own, but readers who have not already read the first book in the series(Dixie O’Day in the Fast Lane) may enjoy the second volume so much that they demand the first one to read as they impatiently await the next story in the appealing series: “Up, Up, and Away” (the first chapter is included as a “teaser”). Also included in the slim volume is an interview with the author and illustrator, a mystery maze to solve, and questions to determine reading comprehension.

[Beth Kakuma-Depew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Digby is a serious sensible fellow, while Percy is a bit silly, especially in his infatuation with the celebrity Peaches Meow. So imagine the consternation of Digby when she arrives at their vacation hotel and creates a stir!

I was afraid Peaches Meow would have a hidden dark side, since the first book had a villainess. But to my delight, she's just the victim of the robbery. A dark spooky cave and a sneaky pair of robbers add tension and drama. Luckily Digby snatches a piece of evidence, enough to take the two suspects to jail.

Excellent reading for advanced 2nd to 3rd graders. The short chapters and lots of illustrations were great. The vocab was a bit challenging at times, but maybe that's due to the British-ness of the language.

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and I must say it is as delightful as the first book about these adorable characters. The only sad thing is that the illustrations did not appear on my kindle but this would clearly not be a problem with a hard copy of the book. The other thing which is odd is that my arc is about DIGBY O'DAY rather than Dixie but this is maybe a change made for the american readership. Shirley is amazingly good at appealing to a young audience and this series of books written with her daughter are equally as compelling as Shirley's earlier work.

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the first book in this chapter book series, this isn't the most original story. Characterization of both major characters is stronger in this second Digby O'Day book. Not really a mystery since the crooks are caught by accident. But a fun, short read nonetheless.

Probably a good series for reluctant readers. Love the extras in the back of the book.

[Carolienvanderwaarde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leuke tekeningen met steunkleur rood ( levert opvallend goed resultaat op) en een ietwat voorspelbaar verhaal maken samen een makkelijk leesbaar boek voor eind groep 5, zowel voor jongens als meisjes geschikt.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read an ARC of the American edition of this transitional chapter book, and it is a great choice for primary students in search of a mystery. It is not scary, is accompanied by fun illustrations, and is part of a series.

[Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

another great childrens story form the fantastic team of shirley hughes and Clara Vulliamy!
i love the illustrations in these books andthe stories are a lot of fun with plenty of humour.
great read!

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved book one and I love book two. Students are lining up to get their hands on this book. Excited for the thir book.

[Wilde Sky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two friends visit a seaside hotel and end up involved in a robbery.

This was a sweet short story for young children with good illustrations.

[Christinagarrity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any book written by Shirley Hughes deserves 5 stars, and how special to be illustrated by her daughter. Love the illustrations.