The Digger and the Flower: An Inspiring Picture Book About Rebirth and Change in the City for Kids

The Digger #1

by Joseph Kuefler

From the acclaimed author/artist of Beyond the Pond and Rulers of the Playground comes a breathtaking new book with a powerful message about the environment, perfect for fans of Peter Brown’s The Curious Garden and Kadir Nelson’s If You Plant a Seed.

Each day, the big trucks go to work. They scoop and hoist and push.

But when Digger discovers something growing in the rubble, he sets in motion a series of events that will change him, and the city, forever.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Construction, Nature, Storytime, Environment, Trucks

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 23, 2018

About the author

Joseph Kuefler is the author-illustrator of The Digger and the Flower, Beyond the Pond, Rulers of the Playground, and Pillow Places as well as the illustrator of The night Is for Darkness by Jonathan Stutzman. He lives in Minnesota with his wife and children.

Reviews

[Spencer Orey · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kid cannot get enough of this book even though he doesn't totally understand the digger's existential crisis. He does get excited that there are more flowers at the end. I think it could've used one or two more pages, maybe a field of wildflowers or something. But seriously we have read this book over and over and over and it isn't getting old yet, so that's something special!

[KC · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story and how the Digger wanted to save the one flower in a city of tall buildings and concrete but sadly it ended too abruptly.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Is Digger still employed?

[Jillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alas, I'm "meh" on this one. The ending is abrupt - did Digger just not go back to work? and the book as a whole seems to imply that commercial development and nature are mutually exclusive. The flowers have to be taken far, far away so the very last inch of the city can be built on. Digger never really changed anything - and certainly not the whole city, forever.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A softhearted construction machine can't help but protect the fragile flower growing at a work site.



A very sweet story, with a few sad moments, but a happy ending.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three large trucks, a crane to hoist, a dozer to push, and a digger to dig, work together to build large buildings, bridges, and roads for a city. But Digger finds a small flower in the rubble and stops working with the other two trucks so that he can water the flower, protect it from wind, and sing it a song at night. Eventually, the only place in the city that isn't complete is the plot of land where the flower is growing. Before Digger can stop him, Dozer cuts the flower down. But Digger isn’t ready to give up, he picks up the little seeds that he’s spotted and drives to the farthest house on the farthest street. “He drove to a place no big truck had ever been.” There he plants the seeds and takes care of them exactly like he has the flower. *Spoiler Alert* The last page has no text but shows four little flowers popping out of the ground and the city in the distance.

Cons: At this point, I’m still not a fan of personification, but I have a few other concerns with this story. I was concerned that Digger completely ignored his responsibility to the other two trucks when he left his job to take care of the flower. I would have felt better if he cared for the flower on breaks or after work. My last concern is that Digger felt he needed to plant the flower seeds miles away from the city. Do the two, city and nature, have to be miles away, or can they complement each other?

Pros:  This is a very simple story that can be interpreted several ways, I’m sure. I can see boys loving the aspect of the large trucks working together. The rather muted backgrounds of each illustration make the red, orange, and yellow trucks jump to the forefront. Eventually, the blue flower does the same. The compassion for nature and beauty is a definite plus.

Full Review: http://www.picturebooksleuth.com/2018...

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author/illustrator Joseph Kuefler, who made his debut with Beyond the Pond , one of my favorite picture-books of 2015, returns with this third foray into the genre. Like the other construction vehicles, Digger likes to work, building the infrastructure of the city. But when he finds a beautiful blue flower in the rubble, he attempts to protect and nurture this delicate being, only to see it destroyed by Dozer. Is it the end, or can he do something constructive with the seeds...?

A sweet story about urban development, and the importance of conserving green spaces, The Digger and the Flower imagines a world in which green growing things must retreat from the city. In this sense, it struck me as being somewhat different from titles like Peter Brown's The Curious Garden , in which the hero manages to carve out green spaces within the city itself. Here, the digger must replant the sees outside the city, in order to preserve them. I think, all told, that I prefer Brown's approach to Kuefler's, although this one had its heart in the right place, and featured lovely artwork. Recommended to anyone looking for vehicle/construction books with a slightly different focus than your run-of-the-mill example of the genre.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each day in the City, Crane hoists, Bulldozer pushes, and Digger scoops. They make roads for driving, bridges for crossing, and buildings for working. When Digger discovers a flower in the last untouched soil of the city, he begins to nurture it. He waters it when its leaves look dry, shields it when the wind blows, and sings a lullaby when it’s time to sleep. One day when tragedy strikes, Digger turns his sadness into action, changing the City forever.

This is my three-year-old’s latest favorite picture book, which means we’ve read it so many times we both have it memorized. I chose this book because we are still in the truck phase of toddlerhood but we found the writing and illustrations equally stunning. Thankfully, the paradox of a successful digger and flower relationship was lost on my daughter. The emotion between them is palpable. If the ending is a bit abrupt, the ecological message is subtle, leaving the reader hopeful for the future of cities and flowers.

[Miss Pippi the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big trucks are building a city. Crane, Dozer, and Digger are working hard. Digger notices the little green and starts to take care of the little bud.

A great story to share about green space in a world of gray. The illustrations are wonderful with all the layers of texture.

2018 storytime theme: dirt & rocks
2023 storytime theme: PreK Planters Flowers

Reviewed from a library copy.

[Kinga (oazaksiazek) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Podobała mi się mniej niż "Koparka i kaczuszka", bo myślałam, że historia skończy się nieco inaczej! Ba, chciałam, aby zakończyła się inaczej. Aby w mieście ten kwiatek został, aby było zielono i przyjemnie a nie szaro i ponuro.

[Alison Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three hard working trucks are building a city. Digger discovers a flower in an otherwise barren city. He lovingly cares for it until the day Dozer cuts it down so they can add yet another building. Digger is devastated until he spies some seeds on the ground next to the flower. He carefully takes the seeds, drives far away, and raises the flowers.

I saw this book on a list of the best picture books of 2018 and then when I saw it at the library the next day I figured it was a sign. Of course, I probably would have grabbed it anyway since my son loves both trucks and flowers. For me, the illustrations are the best part of the book. They are powerful enough that it could have even been a wordless picture book and still been good. I enjoyed the sharp lines of the architecture, the expressions on the trucks as well as the use of strong color and varied texture.

There are numerous subjects that you could discuss while reading the book such as how small things can bring great joy, dealing with disappointment, or how caring for something outside of ourselves is rewarding. I found myself reflecting on whether Dozer had realized that the flower was special to Digger or not (its not clear in the book) and how that impacts my view of his action. My son and I talked about how each character may have been feeling before and after the flower is cut (we talk a lot about empathy in our house). All in all, a nice solid choice for the young truck lovers in our lives.

[Stacie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The pictures were well rendered but the story? Why would a truck love a flower? And in the effort to save three seeds, how many plants did the digger destroy with its treads and scoop - millions? But it’s ok - I saved a plant I love - screw all those plants YOU love. Sigh. We humans never learn. The idea that this book is some kind of treatise on environmentalism would be laughable if it weren’t so sad.

[Cheryl Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read this picture book to my grandsons and they loved it. Even though the illustrations aren't as colorful as in lots other picture books, the boys were so taken with the digger and other construction vehicles, it captured their undivided attention. It also has a very sweet and nurturing message that is wonderful to instill in little boys -- and little girls who love vehicles and construction stuff too :)

[Deborah]

Retro sweet.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and powerful.

[GinaRose Cristello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anthony cannot get enough of this story. And what better message for a little one than to see and protect beauty??

[Lightwhisper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mais um conto, com uma arte simples e história simples, que nos relembra que há espaço para a natureza e que devemos cuidar dela.

[Callum Legere · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rated the digger in the flower for stars cause at the one of the construction trucks cut the flower down

[AF122 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enzo’s self picked prize from the library for summer reading.

[Teresa Biggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My grandson was not that interested. I thought it started out strong but ended very slow

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was more of an emotional roller coaster than I was initially expecting.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple and sweet story on first impression but rich in multiple themes, including identity, change, power, individualism, environment, nature, conservation, progress, etc.

[Linda (bythebellbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a charming picture book that effortlessly captures the essence of nature's beauty amidst urban development. With enchanting illustrations and a poignant narrative, Kuefler takes readers on a journey alongside a determined little digger who discovers a delicate flower in an unexpected place.

This delightful story teaches invaluable lessons about compassion, empathy, and the importance of preserving the environment. Through the digger's unwavering dedication to protecting the flower, readers of all ages will be inspired to appreciate the wonders of nature and the impact of their actions on the world around them.

Kuefler's masterful storytelling and expressive illustrations make "The Digger and the Flower" a must-read for families and classrooms alike. It's a touching reminder that even in the midst of progress, we mustn't forget to nurture and cherish the natural world. This book is sure to spark meaningful conversations about conservation and the beauty of unexpected friendships.

Some tips on how to get most of the book:

BEFORE diving into the story, engage children by discussing the cover and title of the book. Ask them to predict what they think the story might be about based on these clues.
🏗️Introduce key vocabulary words related to nature and construction that appear in the book. Encourage children to make connections between these words and their own experiences.

AS YOU READ the story aloud, encourage children to make predictions about what might happen next based on the illustrations and the actions of the characters.
❓Pause periodically to ask questions that promote critical thinking and comprehension. For example, "Why do you think the digger decided to protect the flower?" or "How do you think the other construction vehicles feel about the digger's actions?"
❗️Point out details in the illustrations that highlight the contrast between the natural world and the construction site. Discuss the significance of these contrasts with children.

AFTER READING

❣️Facilitate a discussion about the themes of the book, such as friendship, empathy, and environmental conservation. Encourage children to share their thoughts and feelings about these topics.

✏️Engage children in creative activities inspired by the story, such as drawing their own illustrations of the digger and the flower, writing a sequel to the story, or creating a diorama of the construction site and the flower.

🌎Take the opportunity to explore real-life examples of environmental conservation efforts in your community or around the world. Discuss ways that children can contribute to protecting the environment in their daily lives.

EXTENTION ACTIVITIES:

🌸Plan a nature walk or outdoor exploration to observe flowers and other plants in their natural habitats. Encourage children to notice and appreciate the beauty of the natural world around them.
🌸Coordinate a service project related to environmental conservation, such as planting flowers or cleaning up a local park. This hands-on experience can reinforce the importance of taking care of the environment.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a piece of construction equipment, Digger works to develop the land and never even considers preservation (or sustainable land use) until he discovers a flower. He cares for the flower until the day when only undeveloped space left in the city was the plot of land in which the flower grew. Before Digger can formulate an argument for the inclusion of green space in the city's design, his coworker Dozer cuts down the flower. Digger is heartbroken until he discovers the flower's seeds in the rubble, which he takes far out into the wilderness and plants. He tends and protects the seeds as they grow and bloom. The final page depicts blue flower descended from the original flower slowly encroaching on the city.

On the surface level, this is the story of a backhoe's touching relationship with a flower. But it also delves into the heavy issues of land use and development, environmental conservation, single-mindedness, and family estrangement.

First this story introduces children to the concept of land use. There is currently an extremely heated debate about how to balance development with conservation and preservation, which will only increase in volatility as the human population continues to increase exponentially. Do the interests of human beings trump of every other being on the planet as well as Earth itself? What regulations should be put in place to protect the natural ecosystems for plants, animals, and future generations? What kind of land use is sustainable? What kind of land use is irresponsible?

The story then tackles social conflict and what happens when a member of a group challenges its rigidly held beliefs. Digger's relentless pursuit of construction, demolition, excavation, and development ceases when he befriends a plant, which alters his point of view and causes him to question the nature of his interactions with the world. His co-workers, however, remain locked in their mentality of industrialization and urbanization. Because the other construction equipment see no value in undeveloped land other than how it can be utilized for their own benefit, they think nothing of destroying the last square of green space. Because Digger has developed different beliefs, it sets him apart and alienates him from his peer and kin groups. The death of the flower brings these opposing values to a head and forces Digger to leave his home community and create a substitute family elsewhere.

This is a story that can be read by a child who loves things that go and big trucks, as part of an Earth Day celebration, or to help teach children to recognize the existence of alternate points of view.

[Briana · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute little book! I was initially drawn to the cover of this book. The cover was simple and I was curious as to what kind of relationship an excavator and a flower might have. In the science fiction book “The Digger and the Flower” there is a group of working trucks getting ready to continue their building of the city. They work completing their individual duties until The Digger finds a flower! He protects it, helps it grow, but it eventually gets destroyed. Digger has a great idea, and moves the seeds to a safer area so that they can regrow and thrive. Some themes that stuck out to me from this book included man against nature, nature as beauty, and even rebirth. I think the most important of them all is the importance of caring for nature and its beauty. I love in this book that the flower gets destroyed, Digger finds the seeds, and gives them a new home. I think something that is underlying may be the impact of urban development and how it is overtaking nature. I could see myself reading this book in 1st or second grade and discussing with students the impact of urban development on nature. I think you could also discuss the importance of picking up trash and recycling in order to keep waterways and land clean. This book could open up a bunch of different discussions regarding how we take care of our world. I also think you could teach empathy and the importance of taking action as individuals. It is important that kids know their actions make an impact on their community and world. I was wowed by the book due to the fact of its simplicity with illustrations and text, but has deep meaning in protecting.
The first literary device that I noticed from this book was personification. There are multiple construction vehicles (including Digger) that have human characteristics. I also found there was some juxtaposition in the illustrations between the colorful vehicles and flowers vs. the grey colors of the buildings. I believe that this contrast helped to push the theme of the beauty of nature. With everything else being on the grayscale, it forced my eyes to focus on the flowers and Digger, showing their importance. Lastly, I believe this book to be anti-bias. There is a slight push towards saying urban and industrial development can harm nature, but I think this is an educational topic children should question and weigh.

[mommy_and_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Koparka i kwiat” to troszkę smutna historia pokazująca co się dzieje przez przypadek. Tylko czy to faktycznie był przypadek? Miasta się rozrastają i brakuje miejsca dla tych najmniejszych. Wycinają wszystko co się da byle móc postawić nowy, wielki budynek. Zobaczycie to wszystko dzięki wielkim maszynom i malutkiemu kwiatkowi. Czy kwiatek przetrwa ten wielki szał na nowe budownictwo? Czy polegnie po to by mogła powstać kolejna budowla? Czy i tym razem żółta koparka stanie na wysokości zadania i uratuje kwiatka przed tragiczną śmiercią?
Przepiękna historia, która pokazuje dziecku, że z każdej opresji jest jakieś wyjście. Dziecko widzi jak ze starego powstaje nowe. Uczy także, żeby nie być jak te wielkie maszyny i zajmować całe pole niszcząc innych. Koparka pokazuje dziecku jak to jest jak się o kogoś troszczy i pielęgnuje go.
Mój synek jest oczarowany tą książką do tego stopnia, że będziemy siać łąkę. Też chciałby mieć kwiatka takiego samego jak ma żółta koparka.
Idealna książka dla dzieci do popołudniowego lub wieczornego czytania. Dziecko poznaje ludzkie zachowania dzięki ciężkim maszynom, a przede wszystkim dobroć i zaangażowanie dzięki pewnej żółtej koparce.
My jesteśmy z tej książki bardzo zadowoleni i mamy cichą nadzieję, że wkrótce ukażą się kolejne przygody naszej dzielnej żółtej koparki i nie zawsze miłych ciężkich maszyn.
Książka „Koparka i kwiat” zawiera przepiękne ilustracje. Możecie z dzieckiem ćwiczyć liczenie, np. maszyn. Możecie po przeczytaniu zadawać dziecku pytania między innymi o czym była ta historia? Czy koparka dobrze postąpiła? Czy była dobrą nianią? Co zrobiły maszyny? Jak wyglądał kwiatek? Oczywiście możecie poprosić wasze dziecko o zadanie wam pytań dotyczących tej książki.
Idealna książka na prezent. „Koparka i kwiat” oraz „Koparka i kaczuszka” to idealny zestaw dla przedszkolaka.
Drogi rodzicu kupuj i czytaj dziecku książki. To buduje i wzbogaca dziecka wyobraźnię.
Z całego serca polecamy te wspaniałe książeczki - #mommy_and_books i syn.

[Mrs. Walker Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming story about a strong and mighty digger and the bond that formed with a flower found amongst the rubble.
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The Digger and the Flower is about big trucks working on development in the city each day when the digger notices a beautiful blue flower. The reader can sense the relationship growing as the digger takes a break each day to care for the flower. Unexpectedly, the bulldozer cuts down the flower to make way for more construction. This leave the digger feeling devastated but he soon notices the seeds that were left behind. He scoops them up and takes them to green space outside of the city and plants them with care. The illustrations and colour choices were thoughtfully done as the construction and city are in grey and muted tones while the yellow digger and bright blue flower stand out and bringing the focus to their relationship and the thoughtfulness behind the diggers gesture.
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I love how this book highlights the strong, tough and mighty truck showing compassion for a small living thing, displaying emotions and turning grief into something beautiful. Although urban development is inevitable, this book also sends the message of preserving green space and caring for nature and our living things.
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💡During Reading, ask, “What makes the digger different from the bulldozer and crane?”
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💡After Reading, ask, “How did the digger feel after the flower was cut down?”, “How do you know?”
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💡After Reading, ask, “Based on the illustration on the last page, what did the digger do?”, “If there were more pages in this story, what do you think would happen next?”
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💡Discuss ways in which you can protect and appreciate nature in your community.
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Digger and the Flower was written and illustrated by Joseph Kuefler @josephkuefler. Published by Balzer and Bray @balzerandbray, an imprint of Harper Collins @harperkids.Joseph Kuefler

[Samuel Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book inspires the reader to care for the world. In this book digger is brave and is protective of the flower. Digger opens his heart up to something that is beautiful and has life thriving through it. Digger was fierce even when under pressure and never gave up after the dozer took the flower down. Digger is the one you want as a friend to care for you, because you can always rely on digger. A major theme in this book was compassion that digger had for the flower. Another major theme would be love and courage since the digger tried to fight back for the flower, against the bulldozer. Digger also shows love to the flower by stopping everything and traveling to a place that is far to replant the flower. The main genre of this book is fantasy fiction. Through reading this book I learned how important it is to not give up even in the harshest times. Another concept I learned was that sometimes some things need all your attention, where you must stop everything and focus on the specific task. This was a wow book for me because of the descriptive illustrations and how the illustrator drew the scale of the images. It also was a wow book to me because the author chose a digger which is usually what destroys plants, but this time it was caring for the plant. A literary device used in this book was foreshadowing. When the author focused on the only place with no building in the city and said we need to put a building here, it foreshadowed what was going to happen to the flower. Another literary device would be imagery. For example, in different scenes of the book you could tell when the machines were running, when there was black smoke surrounding them. These literary devices worked together to let the reader know what was happening and what was going to happen later in the book. I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because it does not have anti-bias language. The book does not have any words that are attacking or hurtful towards the characters.

[Beth Rodgers · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Digger and the Flower' by Joseph Kuefler shows the power of goodness when everything else seems to be overtaking what one knows and loves.

While the other construction equipment works hard to create buildings and other components of the city skyline, Digger comes upon a flower. Sympathy overpowers him, and he knows that he needs to protect it from the encroaching construction work. He does what he can to keep it safe, shielding it from the wind and visiting with it, but alas, the time eventually comes to build on the land on which it sits. The other vehicles pay it no mind, but Digger's special bond with it makes his ensuing workload that much harder to bear. He knows it will have to go away, but he isn't quite prepared for how it happens.

Yet, despite the loss he feels, he finds a way to allow his love of the earth and care for the flower to flourish. Through skillful and insightful illustrations that show how any character - even a construction vehicle - can be personified, Joseph Kuefler creates a stirring sense of both sympathy by Digger and empathy by readers who can share Digger's concerns. Kuefler also shows how, even though construction and nature seem like two entirely exclusive ideas, they can find common ground (literally, even). There is always something someone can have in common with someone else, despite differences, and that is a powerful lesson that this book subtly professes to its readers.

*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*

Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen' and 'Sweet Fifteen,' Young Adult Novels

[Ronda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled across this book while looking for a readaloud to promote consideration for others and kindness. Frankly, on first read through, my immediate reaction is that my kids who love heavy equipment will likely be disappointed. This is NOT a book about heavy equipment--not really. Crane, Dozer and Digger love to build and that's what they do, until Digger comes across a small, beautiful flower. He visits the flower daily, tending it, protecting it, till one day, disaster happens and the flower is cut down. With dirty tears rolling down his face, he finds tiny seeds and leaves the city to plant the seeds where no big truck has ever been.

With very few words, this story could be viewed as a simple story of a Dozer who loves flowers, but it can also travel much further if you choose to view it as a metaphor for how we treat one another. Dozer mows down the flower without even seeming to notice in the pressing need to continue building the city. Do we plow roughshod over others in our need to work, work, work? How many times have we missed small moments of beauty? Digger finds beauty, nurtures it, and, through loss he finds the means to create more.

I am VERY curious as to how my students will view this story. Listed as an ATOS level 2, I wonder if it might work to share with 4th and 5th grade for a lesson on metaphor and personification. For all of the students, K-5, will they find a deeper meaning, or be puzzled by the truck book that isn't a truck book. I am curious to see the reactions and hear their thoughts on this one.