DIG IN!

An exploration into the dirt uncovers worms, pill bugs, seeds, and more.

An eager child is planting some seeds and seedlings into a plot of earth. The digging uncovers a worm. “Worm wiggles.” More digging produces a rock. “Rock sits.” Still more digging uncovers a pill bug that curls, a seed that waits, a spider that runs, and a sprout that grows. Our intrepid gardener keeps digging, placing plants into the ground, watering them, and making mud in the process. The spare, repetitive text is appropriate for the audience, but it leads to an unfortunate lack of clarity regarding whether the child is finding some of the objects in the dirt—the seeds and sprouts, for example—or placing them there. The illustrations, done with linoleum block prints on paper with digital touch-ups, feature close-ups of the child’s hands and the soil being dug. The critters unearthed, even the worm and spider, appear friendly, and some strategically placed birds and flowers add welcome pops of color.

Use this one to talk to preschoolers about what's in the ground and encourage them to find their own plot of earth to explore.