The Digger and the Flower

The Digger and the FlowerBy Joseph Kuefler
Balzer + Bray an imprint of HarperCollins, 2018. Picture book.

“The Digger and the Flower” may seem straightforward enough—it’s a book about friendship, growth, sadness, and changing. But even young readers will be able to tell that this sweet picture book is more than meets the eye. Beyond the basic facts of the book, readers will find an important message about preserving nature and finding joy in it, even for those who live in cities with very little nature nearby. The titular Digger protects the delicate Flower, and learns a timely lesson along the way about just how much we need the beauty of the natural world. The lesson will resonate with children and adults who appreciate the simple beauty of a flower growing between a sidewalk crack.

Kuefler’s art mimics older, retro styles of illustration with simple drawings in splashes of color on a mostly greyscale background. This style helps drive home the message of finding beauty in an urban setting, and makes the characters and nature settings pop more. This style will engage readers with the story because it draws so much attention to the characters.

“The Digger and the Flower” is, in the end, a book about hope for a beautiful and loving world. The environmentally-conscious message will ring true with readers, especially those who want to see flowers everywhere they go.

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