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The Happy Man and His Dump Truck
Fans of trucks and farm animals will love this classic Little Golden Book, from the same illustrator as Scuffy the Tugboat and Tootle.
A happy man thrills a group of farm animals when he takes them for a joy ride in his dump truck. This book is a true classic, originally published in 1950 and illustrated by the beloved Tibor Gergely.
A happy man thrills a group of farm animals when he takes them for a joy ride in his dump truck. This book is a true classic, originally published in 1950 and illustrated by the beloved Tibor Gergely.
24 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1949
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
December 20, 2018
Im going to get a damn dump truck in 2019 and be the happiest motherfucker on the planet.
February 20, 2025
"What fun! And he slid all the way down to the bottom of the dumper."
Who would have imagined that having a big dumper could be so much fun? It’s a delightful surprise!
Who would have imagined that having a big dumper could be so much fun? It’s a delightful surprise!
January 8, 2014
Miryam, The Happy Man and His Dump Truck (Golden Press, 1950)
I have to admit, I am at a loss to explain the enduring popularity of this book at Goat Central. My wife, who originally had our copy when she was a toddler, tells me it was one of her younger brother's favorites when he was two or three years old, and now the Bean can't go more than two or three days without this one coming right back into rotation. It could be Tibor Gergely's illustrations, which have an interesting, kind of Asian feel to them at times (the dog sliding down the dump truck has a definite Chinese dragon feel to him). It could be Miryam's use of repetition, which effectively takes the place of the usual rhythm and rhyme one finds in Golden Books from the forties and fifties and does it one better, with more subtlety in diction (if not in content) than I'm used to. Whatever it is, the Bean adores this book. It may hold the current record for most times read. If not, it's in the top five. *** ½
I have to admit, I am at a loss to explain the enduring popularity of this book at Goat Central. My wife, who originally had our copy when she was a toddler, tells me it was one of her younger brother's favorites when he was two or three years old, and now the Bean can't go more than two or three days without this one coming right back into rotation. It could be Tibor Gergely's illustrations, which have an interesting, kind of Asian feel to them at times (the dog sliding down the dump truck has a definite Chinese dragon feel to him). It could be Miryam's use of repetition, which effectively takes the place of the usual rhythm and rhyme one finds in Golden Books from the forties and fifties and does it one better, with more subtlety in diction (if not in content) than I'm used to. Whatever it is, the Bean adores this book. It may hold the current record for most times read. If not, it's in the top five. *** ½
January 13, 2010
this book tells the story of a happy man who drives around and picks up farm animals in his dump truck. all the animals have the best time, as you can see by their happy faces.
for some reason, i loved this book when i was little and was inspired to wish for a dump truck of my own. my plan was to have my mom drive it when it was her carpool day. i planned to cover the the inside of the back of the truck with purple carpet so that i wouldn't get my school uniform dirty on the ride to school. my mom could pick all of my friends up-- one by one-- on the way to school and we could have a party. and then she could drop them off--one by one--at home after school. just like the "happy man." only in my plan, she would stop at Exxon for twinkies and apple juice for all of us.
for some reason, i loved this book when i was little and was inspired to wish for a dump truck of my own. my plan was to have my mom drive it when it was her carpool day. i planned to cover the the inside of the back of the truck with purple carpet so that i wouldn't get my school uniform dirty on the ride to school. my mom could pick all of my friends up-- one by one-- on the way to school and we could have a party. and then she could drop them off--one by one--at home after school. just like the "happy man." only in my plan, she would stop at Exxon for twinkies and apple juice for all of us.
May 29, 2018
Every time I read this to my daughter, it cracks me up. Here’s this drunk looking dude with a dump truck picking up farm animals and having them slide down his dumper. The farmer’s reaction says it all.
January 24, 2021
Read this with my children. Really cute fun book, they loved it. They wanted me to read it to them again!
January 22, 2013
This a such a cute and great classic. I remember being read this story by my Grandmother and Mother as a little girl. It was one of my favorites. Once I had a son of my own it quickly became one of his favorites too as I read it to him, over, and over, and over again. I love classic Little Golden Books like this, they truly are timeless and can be spread throughout the generations. The dump truck man is such a breath of fresh air in his cheery demeanor and how he treats everyone he meets, including farm animals, like they are friends of his. My son always liked how the animals got such a great ride from the man and got to have such a fun time.
Got to love the wonderful classics!
5/5 Stars by far!!!!
Got to love the wonderful classics!
5/5 Stars by far!!!!
February 7, 2019
Irresponsibility with dump-bed hydraulics is shamelessly on display here as the eponymous "happy man" (luckily we're never shown his low-riding-jeans butt-crack) piles his farm-animal friends into the back and constantly tips the flatbed out of sheer glee as he putters along. The animals have a whale of a time with this until they're slid out the back onto the concrete -- all miraculously unharmed. Don't try any of this at home, kids.
In the sequel, Donald Trump drives the bus, throws all of his "friends" under it, and they all walk away praising him.
-ke/eg '19
In the sequel, Donald Trump drives the bus, throws all of his "friends" under it, and they all walk away praising him.
-ke/eg '19
August 20, 2026
One of my first core memories was reading this book and listening to this amazing narrator and singer from the classic golden book read along record player: https://youtu.be/6enXgqIqwZE “you’ll know when to turn the page when you hear the dump truck horn honk” I’m so happy I got to enjoy listening to and reading this again!
November 13, 2017
I found this is a search through my library's catalog as I prep for a Truck-themed story time. Although sweet, it's definitely dated (original copyright 1950). This might function as a short filler with my preschool crowd, but only if I can't find anything better.
May 20, 2020
Cute short story about a kind man driving his truck around town. He lets various animals along the road ride down the back of his dump truck for fun. If a lesson was to be pulled from this, I would express the lesson of kindness that is displayed through the character of the dump truck driver.
January 1, 2018
For my 4YO
Nice book with vivid Colours and happy pictures. Covered all the farm animals and their sounds. Good book for little ones
Nice book with vivid Colours and happy pictures. Covered all the farm animals and their sounds. Good book for little ones
June 20, 2020
This is a cute book for little children about a man who loves his dump truck and how he makes some new animal friends.
August 14, 2020
Not my first grader's favorite
February 20, 2021
What a great book
September 4, 2023
I loved this book and so did my kids. What a cute story with wonderful illustrations. Loved that the farm animals all got to ride in the dump truck.
June 2, 2025
A lovely, funny book, that appealed to our sense of humor 😁 The idea of using a dump truck as a slide, great!
September 9, 2025
I bought this book for our grandson, M, for his birthday. He is turning 3 years old. Reading the book, the man driving the dump truck is truly a HAPPY MAN!
November 6, 2025
A happy man gives farm animals a ride in his dump truck.
January 14, 2026
Emma gives it a 3, Gio Gio gives it a 10 , and mommy gives it a 4. Very cute story
February 1, 2026
A lonely man goes around picking up farm animals with hilarious results.
May 5, 2026
Een klassieker uit de gouden boekjes serie.
October 4, 2026
If you like the "Little Blue Truck" books, but with a sadistic flavor, you'll love "Happy Man and His Dump Truck". The real question is, why do any of the animals like him? Hmmm.
October 21, 2024
(read aloud by himself at 4yo, missed one word, ‘mewed’.)
June 7, 2022
This cute story was published in 1950 so it isn't the way most stories are constructed now. For very early readers it will not make a difference.
A happy man was driving his dump truck, and each time he met a friend along the way he waved and tipped the dumper. One day he invited animals into his truck so that each time he tipped the dumper the happy animals had a slide. Enjoyable illustrations.
A happy man was driving his dump truck, and each time he met a friend along the way he waved and tipped the dumper. One day he invited animals into his truck so that each time he tipped the dumper the happy animals had a slide. Enjoyable illustrations.
February 28, 2019
I suppose, back in the day it would not have been obvious the dangers faced in this book. No regard to safety at all.
March 9, 2010
This is a nice, old-fashioned kind of story that I very much enjoyed reading. All of the illustrations and writing point to the warmth and simplicity of the time it was first released, the 1950s, and I think that the book can be just as successful now as ever because of the kindness with which it is told. As noted on the back cover, "lively, satisfying stories never go out of style." I completely agree!
The Happy Man and His Dump Truck isn't a long story. A man driving a dump truck gives a ride to one animal, who enjoys it so much that soon the man has invited all of the other farm animals to ride, too, sliding around in the back as the man tilts it up and down. Young kids who like animals or trucks will be partial to this book, and the ones that like animals and trucks won't be able to get enough of it!
The Happy Man and His Dump Truck isn't a long story. A man driving a dump truck gives a ride to one animal, who enjoys it so much that soon the man has invited all of the other farm animals to ride, too, sliding around in the back as the man tilts it up and down. Young kids who like animals or trucks will be partial to this book, and the ones that like animals and trucks won't be able to get enough of it!
March 29, 2011
My sister bought this book for my son from the hospital gift shop and it made him very happy during an otherwise very unhappy time. So I love the book for that reason. It's a cute book, if a little dumb. I mean, it's not safe to ride around in the back of a dump truck and most likely the Happy Man's animal passengers would have been gravely injured when he tipped the dumper while they were all inside. The Happy Man just seems a little irresponsible, is all. Happy, but maybe not especially smart. But, like I said, seeing Gavin clutch this book to his chest as he walked around the children's emergency ward after a horrible allergic reaction I will no doubt have a bittersweet fondness for The Happy Man and His Dump Truck for quite some time.
December 12, 2014
Synopsis: "A happy man thrills a group of farm animals when he takes them for a joy ride in his dump truck. This book is a true classic illustrated by the inimitable Tibor Gergely."
My Review: This was a great little classic story. It was short and simple with the classic illustrations. It combined many of the things Munchkin loves, dump trucks and animals. He loved pointing out the animals and making their sounds. Of course now he thinks he should get to ride in the dump bed and get to slide out.
My Review: This was a great little classic story. It was short and simple with the classic illustrations. It combined many of the things Munchkin loves, dump trucks and animals. He loved pointing out the animals and making their sounds. Of course now he thinks he should get to ride in the dump bed and get to slide out.
May 8, 2014
This book is not a particularly complex book, and it's quite old, but I don't know a kid (ages 6 months -2 years old) who can resist all of the farm animals sliding around in the back of the dump truck. The farmer loves to give them rides. Vocabulary for the younger set helps them identify the names of the different animals. Print awareness is also easy to teach in this simple book as the animals greet the happy farmer.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews