Author Andrea Zimmerman (If I Were a Tree) and illustrator Dan Yaccarino (City Under the City), who first collaborated in 1999 for the picture book Trashy Town, have once again teamed up to create the Big Jobs, Bold Women series. In the eye-catching, rhythmic fourth installment, Digger Daisy!, a strong woman leads a construction crew as it cleans up the aftereffects of flooding at a park.
Daisy, a white woman with a brown bob and pink construction hat, receives a summons from the park ranger to clear the wreckage from a storm. She and her diverse team set right to work: "They scoop and dump. They lift and load. They clean the mess to clear the road." When a piece of equipment sinks in the mud, Daisy uses her sharp wit to solve the problem. "The people cheer, 'HIP HIP HOORAY!'"--Daisy's quick thinking has "saved the day." With the job complete and the park restored, the ranger celebrates the team. "The park looks great. The work is done. The road is clear. Time for fun!"
Yaccarino's digital illustrations employ fully saturated, lively colors and simple geometric shapes that mesh seamlessly with the playful nature of the text. Although the pink of Daisy's hard hat and digger reinforce gender stereotypes, the work she performs, her role as the crew's leader, and her ability to problem solve all work to depict women as powerful and skillful in a position traditionally assigned to men. Digger Daisy! is a dynamic picture book in a series that serves up an encouraging message for all readers. --Jen Forbus, freelancer