Blurb: 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.
Three big trucks work hard all day constructing roads, bridges and buildings. In the evenings two of them stop to rest but not Digger. He has found a tiny fragile plant. Somehow, over the following months, all of the construction happens around this tiny fragment of life and meanwhile each evening Digger waters the new green leaves and shelters the plant from harsh winds.
"And before he switched off for the night, Digger sang the flower a bedtime song."
Finally everything is completed. The city is filled with huge grey towering buildings. Only one patch of ground remains untouched.
Spoiler alert - turn the page - you will see the two huge machines roar into the empty space and (in a moment that made me scream out loud) the tiny plant is destroyed. Among the broken blue petals Digger finds three tiny seeds. Digger picks up these little treasures and heads off to the countryside.
"There, Digger stopped. He dug and scooped and tucked the seeds into the warm earth."
One of the best parts of visiting a library (in my case the most wondrous school library) is when you find a surprising and wonderful book like this one - The Digger and the Flower. This also means I have discovered another author/illustrator Joseph Kuefler.
Here is a brief interview with Mr Schu.
If you are reading this post and you work in a school library or a preschool please try to find this book. I think it should be shared with all young children (and older ones too).
If you are discussing the UN Sustainable Development Goals with your students this book is perfect for Goal 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and also Goal 11 Sustainable cities and communities.
Here is the sequel published in 2022:
You might like to pair these books with this very special wordless book:
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