The Deepest Dig

"Inspired by a real-life 2015 discovery by a farmer in Michigan, this is a story about a boy named Caden who digs up a prehistoric woolly mammoth skeleton in his backyard. A recent heavy rain has exposed a bit of something in the yard, which Caden notices and resolves to dig up. He attempts to enlist the help of the adults in his life, who humorously dismiss his discovery. His classroom teacher jokes, "If you had found one of those, I'd eat my hat." Well, against all odds Caden has found "one of those," namely the bones of a woolly mammoth. And the story does wrap with some hat-eating (albeit with a twist). Martha, Caden's next-door neighbor, is the only adult who encourages him to keep digging. Working together and using Martha's truck winch, they haul the biggest bones out of the earth and try to assemble the pieces, which results in several funny combinations. In the end, Caden succeeds in getting his parents' attention, and they're amazed by the giant mammoth skeleton inexpertly pieced together in their own backyard. Even more so, they're amazed and impressed by the tenacity and drive of their young son. Not only has he connected the pieces of the mammoth, Caden has also brought his family together, which is the real treasure Caden finds by the end. The rich-but-restrained illustrations perfectly complement the book's deadpan humor in this kid-empowering story that is also a celebration of scientific inquiry and discovery."--