Digger and Daisy Go to the Zoo (I Am a Reader)

By: Judy Young
Illustrated by: Dana Sullivan
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Publication Date: September 2013
ISBN: 978-1585368419
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: October 2013

It was a very hot day and Daisy and Digger had to think of something to do. “Do you want to go to the zoo?” Daisy asked Digger. Yes, that was the perfect thing to do on a hot day. They looked at all kinds of birds. Big ones, little ones, red, green, “yellow and blue birds, too.” There was a very funny pink bird standing on one leg. Digger claimed, “I want to stand like that bird.” He tried and went this way and that and that way and this. Boom! “And over he falls.” No, Digger couldn’t stand like that bird.

Daisy said they couldn’t walk on one leg, but they could “walk on two legs.” Next they went to see the monkeys. “I want to climb a tree,” said Digger. No, that would never do because they couldn’t climb trees, “But we can climb stairs,” said Daisy and they did just that. A giraffe was munching and crunching on a leaf. “Digger wants to eat a leaf from a tree.” No, that would never do. There were lots of things that Digger could do, but just what were they?

This is a fun day with Digger and Daisy at the zoo that very young readers will love. Of course Digger thought he might just want to do a lot of things that the zoo animals could do, but every time he tried he simply couldn’t do them. Daisy, of course would laugh and then remind him there were things that he could do. Of course the humorous emphasis is on those fun things that Digger can do rather than those he can’t. The tale is very animated and the chipper artwork is perfect for this mini-adventure story. Digger and Daisy are a brother and sister team that will definitely be a hit series for beginning readers. Appropriate for grades K to 1.

Quill says: The very youngest readers will love the new sister and brother team, Daisy and Digger, as they are off on their very first adventure!