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Little Excavator
From New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of the Llama Llama books comes a new character ready to dig his way into your heart!Here come the BIG RIGSrolling down the street. Thumpa-thumpabumpa-bumpaBEEP! BEEP! BEEP!There's Loader and Dump Truck, Backhoe and Crane. They're ready to transform a vacant lot into a neighborhood park. And who wants to help most of all?Little Excavator! But are there any jobs for someone so small?Anna Dewdney's signature rhyming text and inviting illustrations make this a perfect read aloud for for fans of things that go!
Paperback
First published May 3, 2016
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442 people want to read
About the author
Anna Dewdney
143 books439 followersAnna Dewdney was an award-winning children's-book author, illustrator, teacher, mother, and enthusiastic proponent of literacy and reading aloud to children. She was the author of the bestselling Llama Llama Red Pajama series of picturebooks, among many others. She lived with her partner Reed Duncan in Vermont where she worked, gardened, and spent time with her daughters and dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
February 13, 2019
I can't believe I'm saying this about a picture book featuring anthropomorphized heavy machinery, but this may be as close to a "perfect" children's book as anyone is going to get.
In gentle rhyming text, Little Excavator tells the story of Little E, a juvenile excavator who just wants to help the older, bigger machines as they transform a vacant lot into a pretty park. He tries to help, but he's just not big enough for most of the jobs... until there's one important job left that only he can do.
Kids who are interested in trucks and working machines will probably eat this one right up. There are plenty of kinds of machinery illustrated, everything from cranes to bulldozers to dump trucks, and the pictures clearly show what kinds of jobs they do. A little puppy watches the proceedings, and it's fun to try to find him where he's hiding on some of the pages. The story is very clear from the beginning, when we see the vacant lot with the sign that reads "FUTURE PARK SITE" and all the trucks and machinery arriving via the road. At the end, we see the finished park, with a sign declaring it open, and Little E and his friends leaving the scene, their jobs finished.
Not all picture books need to have a heavy-handed moral. In fact, some of the best ones are books like Little Excavator that send a message without hitting the reader over the head.
Quotable moment:
In gentle rhyming text, Little Excavator tells the story of Little E, a juvenile excavator who just wants to help the older, bigger machines as they transform a vacant lot into a pretty park. He tries to help, but he's just not big enough for most of the jobs... until there's one important job left that only he can do.
Kids who are interested in trucks and working machines will probably eat this one right up. There are plenty of kinds of machinery illustrated, everything from cranes to bulldozers to dump trucks, and the pictures clearly show what kinds of jobs they do. A little puppy watches the proceedings, and it's fun to try to find him where he's hiding on some of the pages. The story is very clear from the beginning, when we see the vacant lot with the sign that reads "FUTURE PARK SITE" and all the trucks and machinery arriving via the road. At the end, we see the finished park, with a sign declaring it open, and Little E and his friends leaving the scene, their jobs finished.
Not all picture books need to have a heavy-handed moral. In fact, some of the best ones are books like Little Excavator that send a message without hitting the reader over the head.
Quotable moment:
July 4, 2022
Rowan really enjoys this crummy book. It has digger trucks, so of course he's here for it. On top of that, he has a good time with many of the repeated sounds. Problem is, the moments of repetition change from being sound actions (bam! bam! bam!; smash! smash! smash!) to being soundless actions (fall, fall, fall) to being nouns (junk, junk, junk). So there isn't a cohesive pattern to the repetition. This doesn't really bother Rowan, but it sure irritates me and Kylie. Seems a structural failing of the book's repetition conceit.
What's an even greater problem is just that this is a crappy way to educate and parent children. The entire story is about how the little excavator keeps trying to help do "adult" work, and keeps not being able to do it. Except, all the adults are right there and could easily show the child how to do it, and then help them do it. But none of the adults do this. They only step in after he's tried emulating them and failed. The worst is when Little E is trying to lug away junk, can't do it very quickly, and the adult dump truck just says "Look out, Little Excavator--don't get in the way!" This is wretched parenting.
The moment that's supposed to show how Little E actually can contribute is deceptively insidious. Little E's smallness allows him to complete the finishing task, because it requires a tiny person. The message becomes one of everyone has their place and can contribute in their way--except this is garbage, because Little E could have done all the other tasks in his own way had anyone bothered to teach and assist him. His only value to the adults--who brought him with them--becomes his smallness. This book is basically the children's book equivalent of William Blake's "The Chimney Sweeper," where the point is that if Little E does "[his] duty, [he] need not fear harm."
Deeply gross.
So it gets no stars from me, because I hate it. Rowan, however, still likes it. So two stars is our compromise.
What's an even greater problem is just that this is a crappy way to educate and parent children. The entire story is about how the little excavator keeps trying to help do "adult" work, and keeps not being able to do it. Except, all the adults are right there and could easily show the child how to do it, and then help them do it. But none of the adults do this. They only step in after he's tried emulating them and failed. The worst is when Little E is trying to lug away junk, can't do it very quickly, and the adult dump truck just says "Look out, Little Excavator--don't get in the way!" This is wretched parenting.
The moment that's supposed to show how Little E actually can contribute is deceptively insidious. Little E's smallness allows him to complete the finishing task, because it requires a tiny person. The message becomes one of everyone has their place and can contribute in their way--except this is garbage, because Little E could have done all the other tasks in his own way had anyone bothered to teach and assist him. His only value to the adults--who brought him with them--becomes his smallness. This book is basically the children's book equivalent of William Blake's "The Chimney Sweeper," where the point is that if Little E does "[his] duty, [he] need not fear harm."
Deeply gross.
So it gets no stars from me, because I hate it. Rowan, however, still likes it. So two stars is our compromise.
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July 30, 2020You might recognize this author from the Llama Llama books, but in this story, we have persistent Little Excavator! He might be small, but he is mighty, and he will do whatever he can to help his friends create a neighborhood park. Enjoy this one now by checking out a copy on Mymcpl.org or searching for it on Overdrive! – Reviewed by Stephanie at MCPL Reading Rocket
November 9, 2020
Highly recommend for toddlers, this will be a good one for my teensy story times :)
August 22, 2020
Good rhymes - easy read aloud with cute pictures. Thanks, Dolly Parton!
July 25, 2017
SO CUTE and super fun to read. A little excavator (aka Little E) keeps trying to do big jobs and either getting in the way or tipping over. All the big rigs keep moving him out of the way. Predictably, at the end there's a job only a little excavator can do! But it's so darn cute, I didn't care that it was predictable.
The rhyme and rhythm of the book is catchy, but a few sentences come out clunky.
The rhyme and rhythm of the book is catchy, but a few sentences come out clunky.
July 14, 2017
True Anna Dewdney, which was a little hard to read just because I keep thinking "this is her last book."
May 9, 2018
My 3 year old is enthralled with this book. She likes to remark how Little E must feel sad when he's told that he's too small to do something. I change "he" to "she" for my little E(liza).
July 10, 2024
An auditory delight
I imagine a toddler would enjoy reading/ listening to this. My inner child had a ball listening because the sounds made my listening experience more enjoyable. I would want to read this in book form, though. I hope I can get the chance.
I imagine a toddler would enjoy reading/ listening to this. My inner child had a ball listening because the sounds made my listening experience more enjoyable. I would want to read this in book form, though. I hope I can get the chance.
August 1, 2017
Great picture book for kiddos who love trucks and all things construction.
October 6, 2021
Well, my son loves excavators and the onomatopoeias in the book make it fun to read.
October 21, 2025
Pictures are awesome
My grandson loves this book. We read it over and over and over again. As an adult. It is pretty decent and great to make the weird noises
My grandson loves this book. We read it over and over and over again. As an adult. It is pretty decent and great to make the weird noises
October 7, 2023
Knowing this is the last book the author wrote after her Llama series made it a must read. This little excavator character has come with the Big Rigs to help on construction projects.The illustrations by the author/illustrator are big and colorful but have the texture of a canvas they were painted or drawn on. Each big rig is described and what it does while Little Excavator waits for his turn to do something and be useful. Finally he finds a job only he can do, while the others watch him. This little guy proves small isn't useless and there is a job for even his size. Nice ending.
August 7, 2017
A perfect book for little construction truck fans. Toddlers who adore excavators and dump trucks will love the Little Excavator and identify with his tale of desperately wanting to help out all the big guys. Told with Anna Dewdney's great understanding of young children and perky illustrations, this is sure to be a hit.
July 25, 2018
Best known for her Llama Llama series, she has been an important author for my son Luke, in particular. Her books feature characters who are easy for kids to identify with. They are usually grappling with social-emotional issues or brand new social situations. Dewdney had an incredible gift for verse and for telling simple stories with emotional richness.
Little Excavator, published posthumously, is another very special book. It tells the story of Little E, a young and small excavator who is trying to be as useful as the rest of the crew he's working with who are all grown-up, heavy construction trucks.
Dewdney's trademark lively poetry taps along, beginning each stanza by naming the big trucks in turn, along with their function. The word for each vehicle is shown in a color that matches the truck's paint job. The end of each stanza punches a trio of sound effects and action words, rife with onomatopoeia and a visual feeling of the words through font, color, and placement decisions that suggest movement.
On alternate pages, Little E tries to copy what the big trucks are doing, but he isn't built right for any of these tasks. In the end (of course), a job needs to be done that only a little excavator can manage. Little E learns that while he can't do everything others can do, there are things that make him special.
There is a broader message here about ability and differences in how our bodies work. While abstract for most, it's a message to grow into as understanding of the text deepens.
---
I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is part of a longer post on books for kids who really love trucks: https://www.lineupthebooks.com/20-boo...
Little Excavator, published posthumously, is another very special book. It tells the story of Little E, a young and small excavator who is trying to be as useful as the rest of the crew he's working with who are all grown-up, heavy construction trucks.
Dewdney's trademark lively poetry taps along, beginning each stanza by naming the big trucks in turn, along with their function. The word for each vehicle is shown in a color that matches the truck's paint job. The end of each stanza punches a trio of sound effects and action words, rife with onomatopoeia and a visual feeling of the words through font, color, and placement decisions that suggest movement.
On alternate pages, Little E tries to copy what the big trucks are doing, but he isn't built right for any of these tasks. In the end (of course), a job needs to be done that only a little excavator can manage. Little E learns that while he can't do everything others can do, there are things that make him special.
There is a broader message here about ability and differences in how our bodies work. While abstract for most, it's a message to grow into as understanding of the text deepens.
---
I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is part of a longer post on books for kids who really love trucks: https://www.lineupthebooks.com/20-boo...
January 18, 2026
A great little book. Fun pictures, although the overhead crane shot is a bit hard for a 1- or early 2-year-old to visually parse, as they haven't seen as many things from that kind of angle yet.
The story is so cute, Lil E tries and tries and tries to help out where the big folks are doing things. He gets himself into many jams, which the bigger vehicles/apparatus help him out of. They finally have a great little project that's all for him to do, since he's little and can fit there.
The message is wonderful - there are things he can do to help "HERE and NOW" even if he's not big enough to tackle 'big rig' projects.
For the folks who gave this 1-2 stars, I get where you're coming from, but a"bad" book is something like "Digger does it all (not really)." In that book, the digger is literally told he CAN'T do anything except what he's supposed to. (It's even in the title, which feels mean, like - you can do it! HAHA we were joking you dummy.)
In contrast, in Little Excavator, he's allowed to 'help' (as we allow kids to 'help' in the kitchen, even if they kinda make a mess) and the 'big rigs' help him out of scrapes. They also allow him to do REAL work, when there's something his size. This is a great lesson I think those complaints missed completely - a child being able to ACTUALLY contribute is a wonderful message. These trucks aren't exploiting Lil E because he's small, they're saying oh look, it's something you really can contribute to the project, even though you're little!
The story is so cute, Lil E tries and tries and tries to help out where the big folks are doing things. He gets himself into many jams, which the bigger vehicles/apparatus help him out of. They finally have a great little project that's all for him to do, since he's little and can fit there.
The message is wonderful - there are things he can do to help "HERE and NOW" even if he's not big enough to tackle 'big rig' projects.
For the folks who gave this 1-2 stars, I get where you're coming from, but a"bad" book is something like "Digger does it all (not really)." In that book, the digger is literally told he CAN'T do anything except what he's supposed to. (It's even in the title, which feels mean, like - you can do it! HAHA we were joking you dummy.)
In contrast, in Little Excavator, he's allowed to 'help' (as we allow kids to 'help' in the kitchen, even if they kinda make a mess) and the 'big rigs' help him out of scrapes. They also allow him to do REAL work, when there's something his size. This is a great lesson I think those complaints missed completely - a child being able to ACTUALLY contribute is a wonderful message. These trucks aren't exploiting Lil E because he's small, they're saying oh look, it's something you really can contribute to the project, even though you're little!
August 24, 2019
Little Excavator tries to help the other construction equipment transform a vacant lot into a park, but he struggles to find a job that is the right size for him.
This story is an obvious metaphor for a child trying to help adults who are performing tasks that are beyond his ability. When Little E. fails time after time, the other equipment console him by telling him that he will be able to do these things when he is older. Finally, Little Excavator finds something that he can do that bigger equipment can't, which fills him with pride.
Young readers will be able to relate to Little Excavator's disappointment and frustration at not being able to do things that he wants to do, which will allow them to reflect upon their own lives and experience. They should also be reassured that there is a special place for them and their abilities in the world when Little Excavator is finally able to do something big.
This book will appeal to fans of things that go and construction equipment.
Disclosure: Dolly Parton was kind enough to send our family this book through her Imagination Library Foundation.
This story is an obvious metaphor for a child trying to help adults who are performing tasks that are beyond his ability. When Little E. fails time after time, the other equipment console him by telling him that he will be able to do these things when he is older. Finally, Little Excavator finds something that he can do that bigger equipment can't, which fills him with pride.
Young readers will be able to relate to Little Excavator's disappointment and frustration at not being able to do things that he wants to do, which will allow them to reflect upon their own lives and experience. They should also be reassured that there is a special place for them and their abilities in the world when Little Excavator is finally able to do something big.
This book will appeal to fans of things that go and construction equipment.
Disclosure: Dolly Parton was kind enough to send our family this book through her Imagination Library Foundation.
June 2, 2019
Shea and me loved reading this book together. The rhymes are great (author is author of llama llama series). Story is a great one showing that everyone has a part to play if they just have the patience to wait for the right job at the right time. (Everyone has their own special gifts, attributes that can be used for good and to be proud of.)
Little E (Little Excavator) is competing with all of the other big construction equipment. Each one has their own special job that Little E can’t do. After trying and failing at the others jobs, finally a job comes along that is perfect for Little E. It is just his size and only he can do it.
This was such a fun book because Shea is starting to love trucks and construction equipment- perfect timing! We bought a little set of construction equipment so that he can look at each one and see how it moves as we read about each one in Dewdney’s book. Fun! Solid 5 star book!
Little E (Little Excavator) is competing with all of the other big construction equipment. Each one has their own special job that Little E can’t do. After trying and failing at the others jobs, finally a job comes along that is perfect for Little E. It is just his size and only he can do it.
This was such a fun book because Shea is starting to love trucks and construction equipment- perfect timing! We bought a little set of construction equipment so that he can look at each one and see how it moves as we read about each one in Dewdney’s book. Fun! Solid 5 star book!
May 8, 2019
A cute little story with truck sounds, rhyming, and some repetition. The simple text narrates the different jobs done by the various trucks, and how the littlest one tries to copy the larger trucks, but it doesn't work out. At the end, there is a bridge the others can't cross that the main character can because he is little. The illustrations show how the trucks are working to clear a lot and building a park, and I think it would really help to show the front and back end pages, which show the land before and after the trucks arrive.
I do wonder at how Anna Dewdney is listed as the author. The copyright is for The Anna E. Dewdney Literary Trust, and it is possible she was working on this title before her death. Either way, it is a cute little book, with a different view of 'the little truck with value' in that the little truck will grow.
I do wonder at how Anna Dewdney is listed as the author. The copyright is for The Anna E. Dewdney Literary Trust, and it is possible she was working on this title before her death. Either way, it is a cute little book, with a different view of 'the little truck with value' in that the little truck will grow.
October 10, 2023
The first thing I'd like you to know about this book is how delightful it is.
Little Excavator is a very kid-relatable truck, and he's eager to help. Only the other trucks are so much bigger (read that as OLDER):
- Loader
- Dump Truck
- Backhoe
- Crane
"Little E just wants to lug all day
day
day!
Lookout, Little Excavator -- don't get in the way!"
SO DISCOURAGING SOMETIMES, BEING A KID!
I mean, being a small truck.
Finally he finds a job where his size is just what's needed. So this happy ending is very well earned.
FIVE STARS for an impressively excellent picture book, "For little diggers everywhere."
Little Excavator is a very kid-relatable truck, and he's eager to help. Only the other trucks are so much bigger (read that as OLDER):
- Loader
- Dump Truck
- Backhoe
- Crane
"Little E just wants to lug all day
day
day!
Lookout, Little Excavator -- don't get in the way!"
SO DISCOURAGING SOMETIMES, BEING A KID!
I mean, being a small truck.
Finally he finds a job where his size is just what's needed. So this happy ending is very well earned.
FIVE STARS for an impressively excellent picture book, "For little diggers everywhere."
November 30, 2017
We picked this book up for our son who is two and he loves it. Starting with the endpapers the story takes off showing a park that needs lots of work. Can the big trucks with the help of Little E get the park opened and cleaned up. Each illustration, witch looks to be done as a painting, is full of detail and provides plenty of exploration for young readers. The efforts of Little E to try and help out are also a great lesson for growing into who we are. We have read and re-read this book multiple times in one evening and every time it is great.
January 23, 2018
Little Excavator is ready and eager, but he just can’t seem to find a way to help out in the construction site. He’s either too small or not strong enough or just simply in the way...that is, until a job needs to be done that only Little E can do!
From the always insightful Anna Dewdney, this is another helpful book for any kid that’s ever felt too small to do anything (I know I’ve heard, “I can’t wait until I’m bigger...” a million times). Kids will love cheering Little Excavator on as he steps up to his perfectly-sized challenge.
From the always insightful Anna Dewdney, this is another helpful book for any kid that’s ever felt too small to do anything (I know I’ve heard, “I can’t wait until I’m bigger...” a million times). Kids will love cheering Little Excavator on as he steps up to his perfectly-sized challenge.
March 29, 2023
Chomp the Baby Gator enjoyed the perseverance of Little E as the story went on.
This story teaches lessons about perseverance, self-confidence, and the importance of recognizing that everyone has their own unique strengths and abilities. Little E eventually discovers that he has a special role to play in the construction project, showing that size does not determine one's capabilities. This fun book encourages young readers to believe in themselves, embrace their individuality regardless of the obstacles they may encounter.
This story teaches lessons about perseverance, self-confidence, and the importance of recognizing that everyone has their own unique strengths and abilities. Little E eventually discovers that he has a special role to play in the construction project, showing that size does not determine one's capabilities. This fun book encourages young readers to believe in themselves, embrace their individuality regardless of the obstacles they may encounter.
July 30, 2023
The text doesn't always flow well, and I can't suspend disbelief that an excavator is going to grow up and get bigger over time. Also, the message is more negative than anything else, as the "adult" vehicles constantly complain about this "child" being in the way, don't do anything to help him, train him, or occupy him elsewhere, and then celebrate him being able to do something they can't at the end. The ending still reinforces the idea that he has to wait to be big and important like them, and this seems more like bad parenting and bias against children than anything else.
June 9, 2017
Little Excavator is having a hard time finding jobs that fit him. He's too small for most things, but when there is a job that fits him just right, it is good that he is there to do the job. Likening an excavator to a small and enthusiastic child, it is encouraging at the end to note that he will grow (even though that's not realistic for excavators) and be able to do grown-up things one day, too. Lots of repetition and friendly faces in the illustrations.
June 30, 2017
Fun rhyming text to read aloud with youngsters, sounds of construction repeated as Little E tries to keep up with the big rigs, and finds his own little way to contribute.
The books looks and feels like a combination of other heavy equipment stories for preschoolers, such as "Mighty, Mighty Construction Site"by Sherri Duskey Rinker, and "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel" by Virginia Lee Burton, as well as books in which a small character finds his/her place among the big kids.
The books looks and feels like a combination of other heavy equipment stories for preschoolers, such as "Mighty, Mighty Construction Site"by Sherri Duskey Rinker, and "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel" by Virginia Lee Burton, as well as books in which a small character finds his/her place among the big kids.
September 7, 2018
I read this book to a group of 2-year olds and parents. It went over fairly well, and the sound effects made it fun to read. It does have a little bit of a plot, which is somewhat hard to find in books simple enough for this age group. The little excavator can't seem to do anything right although he really wants to help. Eventually, there is a job that only he can do. I think it is a bit strange that the book says the excavator will grow, because of course machinery does not.
July 12, 2019
Little Excavator is a fun book to read to little ones. It is simple, yet packs a meaningful message that even young toddlers can understand.
Little Excavator is too small to do many of the jobs on the construction site. However he gets his moment to shine when a small walking bridge needs to be crossed to plant a tree.
This story actually taught my two year old about things "fitting" and he learned the word bridge!
Little Excavator is too small to do many of the jobs on the construction site. However he gets his moment to shine when a small walking bridge needs to be crossed to plant a tree.
This story actually taught my two year old about things "fitting" and he learned the word bridge!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2021
A surefire hit with the storytime crowd. Anna Dewdney of Llama Llama fame writes a rhyming story about a little excavator who tries to help out at a building site but repeatedly has to be helped out of jams due to his size. Finally there is a job that only he can do.
Dewdney's books are always popular. This one is no different. The rhyming and rhythm does get bumpy in a couple of spots so make sure to practice before storytime.
Dewdney's books are always popular. This one is no different. The rhyming and rhythm does get bumpy in a couple of spots so make sure to practice before storytime.
March 11, 2024
Little Excavator ultimately has a nice message, which is that small/young people (or their excavator stand-ins) have a role to play, but most of the books is spent with Little E's elders brushing him aside or out of the way, rather than letting him participate or even letting him know that although he can't do X right now, he has an important job at the end.
The rhymes are nice and the illustrations good. My twins love it, so rounding up a .5 star for their delight.
The rhymes are nice and the illustrations good. My twins love it, so rounding up a .5 star for their delight.
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