"When Mama got a new baby...Phoebe got a new digger."

See also: King Baby by Kate Beaton ( )

I didn't like this book very much. There was no big picture to the book- it was about a girl who gets a baby brother, and in turn gets a new toy digger to play with, because her mom gives so much attention to the baby, but then a girl takes her toy and they get into an argument. The only message I got from the book was that it's okay for a girl to play with toys that are stereotypically made for boys. One reason I didn't like this book was because the plot is boring and unconnected, and seems forced. For example, it starts with Phoebe getting a new toy, but then at the park a mean big girl takes her digger and they fight about it. The part when she get's into the fight seems unrelated to the original problem of her getting a new baby brother. A second reason I didn't like this book was the characters are not well developed and lack any description. The book starts with "Mama and baby were always busy. So were Phoebe and Digger." The reader doesn't learn much about her relationship with her mom or who she is really. Finally, the one thing I did like about the book were the illustrations. The illustrations are bright and bold, and enhance the story line. The illustrations help show the reader what is exactly happening. For example, when Phoebe's digger is building a mountain the illustration shows the digger moving the dirt. ( )

Media: Watercolor, ink, gouache, and permanent marker.
Use: Teach about Bullying; Relate to a kid who feels bullied.
Summary: Phoebe and Digger is a touching story about a mom and daughter who goes to the park. While the Mom is focused on the baby, Phoebe is focused on digger. A big, bad, bully comes along and bullies Phoebe by taking her toy. Phoebe gets help from her mom and the situation is extinguished.
Meets Criteria: This book is a contemporary realistic fiction because as Phoebe is at the park, a bully comes up and takes her toys. In addition, the bully is stopped from Phoebe telling her mom what is going on. In addition, Phoebe felt as if she was second to the baby (a common feeling of older siblings once a new baby is born). ( )

Phoebe's new digger toy keeps her mind off her new baby brother getting all of her mother's attention until a big, bully girl takes it away at the park. ( )