Tip Tip Dig Dig, by Emma Garcia, is a simple yet memorable story of the construction of a playground by a few popular construction vehicles. The simplicity of the text, the “mystery” of the story, and the unique construction of the images will make Tip Tip Dig Dig a favorite good night read. For a parent, this story fulfills two unique requirements for a good bedtime story.

First, the story is straightforward and uncomplicated, and yet it keeps your child’s attention by unfolding as a mystery. “Look at all this mess!” the text begs. “What can we do with it?” Slowly, different trucks move in to do different jobs in order to sort out all of the objects on the page. This is where the title comes in. Each truck has a specific sound effect attached, making it fun for kids to read along with you. “With the digger we can…DIG DIG DIG!” By the end of the story, we discover what it was that all of the trucks were up to.

Second, as parents, there are points when the artwork and plotlines of children’s stories begin to run together. While I cherish all of my children’s books (probably because many of them were mine when I was a child), I realize that some of them are cookie cutter stories and similar artwork. Tip Tip Dig Dig, while it certainly doesn’t have an original story, presents one of the most unique visual experiences you can get in a children’s storybook. Each page’s illustrations are carefully cut, carelessly torn, vividly painted, and carefully constructed to provide a fun and interactive visual experience.

Tip Tip Dig Dig is a great read for any child who loves trucks, noises, and a little bit of mystery. For children aged 18 months to 4 years.