Diggy the Dog Explores Friendship

In this text-heavy picture book debut, Diggy, a spry white hound sporting a red collar, strays from his riverside farm home; after a bridge “with a few missing boards and some light damage” collapses beneath him, he is stranded on the opposite bank. As Diggy attempts to return across the river, he encounters a variety of earnest animals whose offerings of help have their limitations—Bucky the Beaver, a master builder, will “take a day, maybe more” to knock together a bridge or boat, while tiny Olly the Owl offers a bird’s-eye view but no hope of cross-river carriage. Kochetova’s soft-toned digital illustrations feature heavy bottom eyelids, giving some of the animals a Ren & Stimpy vibe, and showcase the animals’ various strengths as they all band together in collaboration. Though uneven meter disrupts the rhythm (“Thunk, Thunk, Thunk... it was fast approaching./ Louder and louder, something was definitely encroaching”), a perennial theme of teamwork makes this a feel-good story. Ages 3–6. (Self-published)