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mat_tobin 's review for:
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole
by Jon Klassen, Mac Barnett
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole sees a second and, eventually, long-standing collaboration between Barnett and Klassen (after ‘Extra Yarn’). There is something so perfect in how Klassen’s earthy, digital illustrations compliment Barnett’s deadpan humour.
This story sees two brothers seek their fortune by digging for buried treasure (which child isn’t going to see appeal in this)? As the boys dig, they suffer continued streaks of bad luck and, in failing to pay attention to their faithful canine companion who has a nose for finding fortune, continue digging until they reach…the other side.
The humour here then is in the reader having command of a narrative that the characters do not. Cross-sections of the brothers digging reveals to the young reader how constantly close they are to unearthing their fortune only to change route at the very last minute – both my boys berated the boys on each page for changing direction!
Once again, Klassen and Barnett, both masters of subtle narrative present a deceptively simple story fuelled by an anarchic, postmodern narrative. From the knowing glance between the dog and cat at the end to the little nuggets of humour for the keen observer, they both manage to weave into this picturebook a sense of childhood that readers will delight in whilst subtly sowing in a thread of irony that the adult reader will enjoy too.
This story sees two brothers seek their fortune by digging for buried treasure (which child isn’t going to see appeal in this)? As the boys dig, they suffer continued streaks of bad luck and, in failing to pay attention to their faithful canine companion who has a nose for finding fortune, continue digging until they reach…the other side.
The humour here then is in the reader having command of a narrative that the characters do not. Cross-sections of the brothers digging reveals to the young reader how constantly close they are to unearthing their fortune only to change route at the very last minute – both my boys berated the boys on each page for changing direction!
Once again, Klassen and Barnett, both masters of subtle narrative present a deceptively simple story fuelled by an anarchic, postmodern narrative. From the knowing glance between the dog and cat at the end to the little nuggets of humour for the keen observer, they both manage to weave into this picturebook a sense of childhood that readers will delight in whilst subtly sowing in a thread of irony that the adult reader will enjoy too.