The boys start digging in front of a house with a cat sitting on a porch and a growing apple tree in the yard.

This is an example of how the illustrations add to the narrative, for there is no mention of the diamonds which grow bigger and bigger the deeper they dig, in Barnett’s text.Īs well, the boys dig themselves into a parallel universe (?) that is not mentioned in the text. I would be living a much different life if Wallace could sniff out buried diamonds). The images illustrate that text, and add to it, in that the boys continually decide to change the direction of their digging right when they’re about to stumble across a big diamond (which their dog companion appears to be able to smell. The text tells readers of friends Dave and Sam who “dug a hole” and decide they won’t stop digging “until we find something spectacular” (npg). Sam and Dave is not what we in the Children’s lit biz call a twice told story, meaning the text and images do not tell exactly the same story. As a English major I am currently turning green with envy). This is my first experience with Mac Barnett, but I am now a fan (not to mention he took classes with David Foster Wallace which is really, really cool. Sometimes he acts as illustrator (like with Sam and Dave) and other times writes and illustrates ( This is Not My Hatand my favourite I Want My Hat Back). He has a unique style that is humorous, gorgeous, and yet gritty.

He’s a Canadian illustrator living in the states. I bought this picture book because I LOVE Jon Klassen. Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen

Sam & dave dig a hole