Alfred Digs - Hardcover

George, Lindsay Barrett

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0060787600 ISBN 13: 9780060787608

Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 2008

Synopsis

What would you do if your pet ant escaped from her ant farm? Would you follow her? Even if you had promised your mama to eat your pie, and drink your milk, and stay in your cozy burrow?

Scritch.

Scratch.

Scritch.

Alfred digs. And digs. And digs. Where is Itty Bitty? And what will happen when Alfred finds her?

In this tour de force of a picture book, Lindsay Barrett George introduces an aardvark (or two), an ant (a troublemaker, really), and an adventure that takes place in a dictionary. Where? A dictionary.

Read on!

About this title

About the Author:

Lindsay Barrett George is widely recognized for her striking illustrations of animals, birds, and fish in their habitats. She is the author-illustrator of Maggie’s Ball; Alfred Digs; The Secret; Inside Mouse, Outside Mouse; In the Garden: Who’s Been Here?; and four other Who’s Been Here? titles.

Lindsay Barrett George lives in northeastern Pennsylvania with her dog, two cats, and a very handsome duck.

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 1—A book that is stronger in concept than in execution. The endpapers let readers know from the outset that the action in this book takes place inside a dictionary. The first page boasts a definition of an aardvark, thus introducing the main character. Alfred is an aardvark but he does not eat ants. In fact, his pet is an ant that he calls Itty Bitty. While Mama is away, he and Itty Bitty dig down through the dictionary to visit the zoo. Along the way, they encounter a woodpecker that threatens to eat Itty Bitty. Mama comes along at just the right moment and saves the day. Back they go to their aardvark tunnel in time for bed. It's not an alphabet book per se and it is not a credible adventure, and thus the story falls flat. Children who know the alphabet will recognize that the bird that appears is a woodpecker because of where the characters are in the dictionary. Other youngsters will have to wait for the page turn to find it identified. The same is true of the ending, when they board a zeppelin with Mr. Zebra to head back home. While they make it home safe and sound, the ending leaves readers wanting more. A remarkable illustrator, George's work here is a disappointment as well.—Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
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About this edition

• Publisher: Greenwillow Books
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0060787600
• ISBN 13: 9780060787608
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: George Lindsay Barrett