Mr. Rally and his dog, Lightning, both like digging in the dirt. And when Mr. Rally goes to work in his yellow backhoe, Lightning comes along. Today they have five jobs: hauling rocks for the bridge on the ridge, digging a drain for the rain, moving a load on the road, digging a hole for the pool at the school, and leveling the ground for the brand-new zoo. There is a mix of rhymed and unrhymed text in this appealingly busy board book that briefly details the work on each job, always ending with the same refrain: “Dig up rock and dig up clay! Dig up dirt and dig all day!” This is followed by a question: “Is the digging done? No!” Rhyming, construction equipment, and the invitation to join right in — what’s not to love? The inviting illustrations offer plenty of detail without the small board pages feeling cluttered. (Ages 1–4)

Dig up rock and dig up clay! Dig up dirt and dig all day!

Mr. Rally and his faithful dog, Lightning, have a busy day ahead of them, but they don't mind. What could be more fun than using a big yellow backhoe to build a pool at the school and a drain for the rain? Follow Mr. Rally through his day as he travels around town, counting from one to five in an irresistible refrain.

Marc Rosenthal's colorful, nostalgic illustrations add a bold dimension to the lively text by husband-and-wife team Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha. Dig on, Mr. Rally! Dig on, Lightning!