2025
WISE Score
A rhyming board book that turns a toddler's sandbox obsession into a career path exploration using gatefold flaps and a mirror finish.
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This is a top-tier board book for the 'obsessed with dirt' phase of toddlerhood. It manages to be educational without being dry, and the gatefold flaps add just enough 'wow' factor to keep a two-year-old from wandering off mid-sentence.
Katrina Moore and Benson Shum have created something that feels modern and fresh while sticking to the proven board book mechanics that actually work. It’s a great pick for a kid who wants to touch everything they see.
Designed specifically for the 1-3 age bracket. The simple rhymes and interactive flaps are perfect for short attention spans.
It is a gentle, rhythmic board book that focuses on curiosity and community roles without any conflict or overstimulation.
The gatefold flaps and the mirror ending encourage active participation and help toddlers visualize themselves in different roles.
As a physical board book for toddlers, it is entirely safe. The only risk is the standard 'enthusiastic toddler vs. paper flap' durability issue.
It builds vocabulary around specific careers (paleontology, farming) and develops fine motor skills through the use of flaps.
Most toddler books about digging stop at the backhoe. Who's Digging? is smarter than that. By introducing the concept of a paleontologist or a farmer, it expands a child's vocabulary and world-view before they’ve even mastered potty training. The 'Big Jobs for Little Babies' series excels at taking adult concepts and stripping them down to their most basic, sensory components.
Benson Shum’s art style is a major asset here. It’s not just cute; it’s clear. For a one-year-old, the ability to distinguish the fossil from the dirt or the seed from the soil is a developmental win. The book ends on a mirror, which is the oldest trick in the board book world, but it works every single time. It bridges the gap between 'that person on the page' and 'me.'
If you have a kid who is currently trying to excavate your living room rug with a plastic spoon, this is the book to hand them. It validates their interest while pointing it toward something bigger.
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