The Little Yellow Digger

The Little Yellow Digger #1

by betty-gilderdale, Alan Gilderdale (Illustrator)

When little yellow digger gets stuck in the mud, a range of bigger diggers are sent to finish the job.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

Paperback

Published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Danielle Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book... must have read this to my kids a thousand times... and they loved it too! It's an absolute classic.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic New Zealand addition to the construction stories canon. As an Aucklander, diggers getting stuck in the mud after rain really speaks to my lived experience. Told in well-crafted rhyming rhythm, this is a very real-world digger drama and the Little Yellow Digger is the true hero. Vividly illustrated- it’s a beautiful book. - a favourite this week.

[Ainsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As rated by my 1.5yo

[Briege Mcateer · Rating 3 out of 5]

An inarguable kiwi classic and must have for any household with a child. My issue this book however is that the first digger is not in fact a digger but a loader, the second appears to be the same. While this may seem like nit-picking (it is), it does bear mentioning. Particularly as it raises the core issue of this text. If someone is driving heavy land moving equipment they should really know what it is called, as not knowing suggests a lack unfamiliarity with the apparatus. They therefore should not be driving it, certainly not in less than ideal conditions such as those described in the book. The entire ordeal could have been avoided if more appropriately skilled workers had been employed. Certainly a wheeled loader would not have been used inappropriately on the wet mud in the first instance where the more suitable little yellow digger with tracks would have been far less likely to get stuck. Again, a book for every household, with a good lesson in critical evaluation and thinking to be gleaned.

[Aroha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, loved the rhymes it had good rhythm. Spoiler- not always the biggest digger is the best digger

[Emma-Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story of team work and the little guy saving the big guys! Cute story introducing kids to the world of diggers and construction.

[P. Industry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely one of the best picture books for kids learning how to read; a simple and clear text with a solid rhyming scheme, awesome bright pictures, and a practical message. The book works through progressively bigger tractors getting stuck in the mud, and then unspools it with the little yellow digger ending up the ultimate hero (and the concrete pad finally laid).

As a little girl I loved this book literally to pieces; my battered second copy was passed on to my male cousin who was equally enamored. This is a superb book, and I would highly recommend it for ages about 3-7.

[Athena Macmillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

B is right into his trucks, cars and other vehicles at the moment, so this was always going to be an instant hit with him. Requested multiple times during the day, it isn't yet wearing thin as it is just the right length to be an entertaining wee story yet not be stuck with endless pages of repetition as some picture books fall into. It rhymes, which sometimes also puts me off a little, but it has a nice rhythm which chugs along nicely. Very good.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of THE best picture books. Didn't realise it was NZ, or that it wasn't famous out of NZ! World famous in New Zealand.

I guess picture books are misrepresented on GR, because their main audience is the one most likely to not use GR yet!

[Hoppo Bumpo]

A favourite for story-time in our house at the moment. The syncopated rhyming text is fun to read, the illustrations detailed and the diggers ... well, just the right number!

[Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author: Betty Gilderdale
Illustrator: Alan Gilderdale
Age Recommendation: Preschool/Kinder
Art Style: Realistic Watercolour and Pencil
Topic/ Theme: Community (I honestly don't know how to phase this one)
Setting:A New Zealand Backyard
Series: The Little Yellow Digger

The premise of The Little Yellow Digger is fairly simple a little digger is working in the rain, gets stuck and needs help getting out, everyone gets stuck and everyone helps everyone helps everyone out when the mud dries. But to a child it is captivating, an adventure.

This is a book I have fond memories of from my own childhood, it was my brothers' favourite book for some time growing up. Unsurprisingly to any child from that time (early 90s) The Little Yellow Digger was given the Gaelyn Gordon Award for a much-loved book in 2003 (other books with the award include Who Sank the Boat? & Nicketty-Nacketty Noo-Noo-No). I am almost astounded at how well this book has held up, yes there are issues but nothing to say well that is grossly wrong in modern society and nothing to say a modern child wouldn't get as much love out of it as we did.

This is brilliant book for younglings having work one in the neighborhood where seeing a digger is possible or for those with an existing interest in construction. But it is not a boys book, the children are a boy and a character that is gender ambiguous. Written in a rhyme with plenty of repetition it is probably a good book bedtime reading and when youglings are just starting to read, at that stage when they need familiarity.

[SBC · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a New Zealand classic, but it was published in 1992, when I was nearly in my teens, so I never encountered it as a child. I've read it a few times this year with my vehicle-loving son, and we've enjoyed it.

It has serviceable illustrations but its real appeal is the plot and the rhyming text. A little digger gets stuck in the mud on a rainy day, and bigger and bigger diggers come to rescue it and get stuck too. After the rain dries up all the bigger diggers are stuck fast but the little digger saves the day.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story reminds me of observations I have made of my uncles... many a digger has got stuck!
Great illustrations too

[Mary Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely book! The diggers are so friendly and they each help each other. It’s also enjoyable to read, with symmetrical and rhyming passages. Recommended!

[Frank Ferrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing little children's book about a little yellow digger getting stuck but in the end saving the day. A favourite with my children.

[Eloise · Rating 4 out of 5]

My cousin loves this book but I’m starting to get a bit sick of reading it

[Harper And Sienna · Rating 5 out of 5]

i want his big bucket inside of me. i wish he would drive all over me. the best book boyfriend ever.

[Jack Kirby and the X-man · Rating 4 out of 5]

X-man loves construction equipment of all types - we can sit for ages watching excavators, tip-trucks, bulldozers, rollers, etc, etc. This book brings that experience home.

I love rhyming books for kids, and this rhyme really works.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolute favourite of boy my boys. It Rhymes beautifully and engages the early testosterone. A delight to read - I lost count after the first thousand...

The other books are great but not as great as this.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never read this before until someone got it for us last year but it feels like a very familiar classic. The rhythm works really well and it's a fun and entertaining 'true' story with a nice NZ slant. The illustrations are somewhat basic but fit the story well. Fun for boys and girls.

[stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh, i have read this book out loud a THOUSAND times. but it's good. it's nice and sweet and tells a good story, while still being interesting for little boys. trucks! rollers! diggers!

[Francie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a favorite picture book from a New Zealand author -- my boys loved this story and it reminds me of home ...

[Annette McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little yellow digger is digging a drain. And then it starts to rain.......

[Primo Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that my kid is into cranes, trucks and caterpillars I've been using this book to read before I put him to bed, he loves it

[Emmaleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve decided to add the children’s books that I read to my total if I actually wanted to read it myself, or if I’ve read it over and over again.
This one is the second option.