Review: Bulldozer's Christmas Dig by Candace Fleming

 We're celebrating National Book Lovers Day here on Bookworm for Kids...and that a day late (but can reading ever be celebrated too late?)

My next post is a wink at the upcoming, holiday season from a character I've gotten to meet before. Little tractor, truck and car friends get ready because this one is for you.

BULLDOZER'S CHRISTMAS DIG

by Candace Fleming

Illustrated by Eric Romann

Caitlyn Dlouhy Books

Picture Book / Holiday

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

A very little bulldozer digs up a most unexpected Christmas gift for his friends at the construction site in this holly jolly third book in the Bulldozer series from award-winning author Candace Fleming and Caldecott Medalist Eric Rohmann.

It’s Christmas Eve, and Dump Truck is carrying…carrying…carrying garland.
Digger Truck is stringing…stringing…stringing lights.
Crane Truck is lifting…lifting…lifting wreaths.
And Bulldozer is worrying…worrying…worrying.

He doesn’t have any presents for his friends—not one! And time is running out. Does he need a Christmas miracle, or just a little ingenuity, and some digging, digging, digging?

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MY TIDBITS

Little construction fans' hearts will be warm and jolly thanks to this heart-warming, snowy tale.

This is the third book about Bulldozer, and I've had the chance to already discover at least one of them. Bulldozer is a very kind soul, who does his best to do his work and take care of those around him. In other words, he's got the perfect heart to slide into the Christmas spirit. 

The illustrations are bright, clear and still carry the needed hint of artistry to make them worthy of coming back to time and again. And construction fans definitely will with this jolly group. Even though Bulldozer does worry, it's easy to feel for his situation, and his friends as well as the resolution are exactly as they should be. While Bulldozer worries about presents, this book shows the true meaning behind giving, and that is always a message to leave a smile on the face.

The text is well-written for the intended age group and makes a nice read aloud. The repeated words give listeners a chance to join in themselves, too.

And here they are...

Candace Fleming is the acclaimed author of numerous books for children, including the Bulldozer books; Ben Franklin’s Almanac, an ALA Notable Book and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, as well as Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!, Gabriella’s Song, and When Agnes Caws, all ALA Notable Books. She lives in a suburb of Chicago.

Eric Rohmann is the Caldecott Medal–winning illustrator of My Friend Rabbit and received a Caldecott Honor for Time Flies. He has both written and illustrated numerous books for children, including Bulldozer’s Big Day, Honeybee, and most recently Bulldozer’s Christmas Dig, all written by Candace Fleming. He lives in Oak Park, Illinois.