Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth!
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Groundwood Books, 2010 ISBN: 978-0888999948
One morning Roslyn Rutabga wakes up with a plan in her head. Today she is going to “dig the biggest hole on earth.” She may dig her way to China, or perhaps she will go to the South Pole. Roslyn has always wanted to meet a penguin. She might even find pirate treasure on her journey through the earth.
Carefully Roslyn chooses her digging site and she gets to work. She has barely begun, when a worm proceeds to shout at her. “This is my front yard!” he yells, and an embarrassed Roslyn quickly fills up her hole and goes to another place to dig.
The second time round Roslyn is interrupted when a disgruntled mole informs her that she is digging through his bedroom. Roslyn explains that she in the process of digging to the South Pole “to meet a penguin or two.” The mole is not impressed, and poor Roslyn has to relocate her digging site again.
Roslyn happily digs and digs. Everything is going wonderfully when she discovers a bone. A dinosaur bone! At last Roslyn is finding something interesting…or maybe not.
Most children will, at some point, decide that they need to dig their way to some far off place on the other side of the world. It is just something children need to do. This wonderfully sweet and gently funny picture book is a tribute to all the children who have, and who will, make this important step. It is also a tribute to the power of children’s imagination and determination.
Marie-Louise Gay’s engaging text and her one-of-a-kind multimedia illustrations will appeal to readers of all ages.
