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A Hole is to Dig
What is a hole?
A hole is when you step in it
you go down
A hole is
for a mouse
to live in.
And, of course, a hole is to dig.
This is the funniest book
of definitions you'll ever read!
A hole is when you step in it
you go down
A hole is
for a mouse
to live in.
And, of course, a hole is to dig.
This is the funniest book
of definitions you'll ever read!
48 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1952
12 people are currently reading
1460 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Krauss
75 books78 followersRuth Ida Krauss was an American writer of children's books, including The Carrot Seed, and of theatrical poems for adult readers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
June 13, 2017
I read all these old-timey books when I was a kid - this is from 1952 - and came away with all these ideas like, for example, that trains are for wearing bonnets on. (This turns out not to be the case.) But I also learned that
and that is true.
and that is true.
May 23, 2019
A wonderful book with humorous definitions for words. A dog is to kiss is a wonderful double page showing children with their dog friends, there are some beautiful illustrations of dogs accompanying children in their play throughout the book. Sendaks illustrations are wonderful and the illustrations are beautiful, interesting to look at and funny. A book I would definitely want to buy if I had small children and if I came across a copy, one I would love to buy anyway just to keep and look at myself.
Read on openlibrary.
Read on openlibrary.
July 31, 2013
I looked at the 1-3 star reviews of Ruth Krauss' book here, at Amazon, Library Thing etc. A handful of people hate this book flat out...I suspect but do not know that they never made castles out of their Golden Books or gasped at night as they stared into the night sky and thought about how truly small they were as a speck on the crust of a planet spinning around in the universal equivalent of the back 40 of a single galaxy. Others seemed to have been charmed by a phrase or Sendak's drawings and then surmised that it must be for children - for their sheer delight, as a philosophical primer, for their enjoyment, but not for adults. There is no rhyme, there is no story, there is no blatant attempt to tear at emotion or plant a moral seed - to manipulate the reader.
Yay!
After 'Pat the Bunny', this was my first real book - half a century ago. It was my first and most enduring guide to life, the universe and everything. It is substantially the words of children, the logic of children, the wisdom of children. Life is what you make of it. Unlike many adults that I know, I am continuous with my child self. Those that love this book are too.
Yay!
After 'Pat the Bunny', this was my first real book - half a century ago. It was my first and most enduring guide to life, the universe and everything. It is substantially the words of children, the logic of children, the wisdom of children. Life is what you make of it. Unlike many adults that I know, I am continuous with my child self. Those that love this book are too.
May 8, 2025
A very special book. Not sure how we came by it, but this is a first edition, and it is in VERY good condition. But the real value is that it hasn't lost its charm.
Read it to our daughters and this past weekend got to read it to my grandson and he was almost as delighted by it and the old-fashioned black-and-white sketches as I am, which only increased my enjoyment. It is subtitled, A First Book of First Definitions and here's a sample:
--The sun is to tell you when it's every day.
--A tablespoon is to eat a table with. (We had a lot of fun with this one and got to talk about tablespoons and teaspoons.)
--A floor is so you don't fall in the hole your house is in.
--Rugs are so dogs have napkins.
And holes are to dig, sit in, hide things in, plant a flower in, look through and ... a hole is when you step in, you go down!
Oh! And it is SO OLD, it is even older than Mimi (grandma)! 😮😁
Read it to our daughters and this past weekend got to read it to my grandson and he was almost as delighted by it and the old-fashioned black-and-white sketches as I am, which only increased my enjoyment. It is subtitled, A First Book of First Definitions and here's a sample:
--The sun is to tell you when it's every day.
--A tablespoon is to eat a table with. (We had a lot of fun with this one and got to talk about tablespoons and teaspoons.)
--A floor is so you don't fall in the hole your house is in.
--Rugs are so dogs have napkins.
And holes are to dig, sit in, hide things in, plant a flower in, look through and ... a hole is when you step in, you go down!
Oh! And it is SO OLD, it is even older than Mimi (grandma)! 😮😁
January 25, 2009
My favorite "A lap is so you don't get crumbs on the floor." In my real life (This one, where I am a part-time legal secretary, sleeping in my sister's closet, can't be it.) I write little books like this, with small black and white drawings, in collaboration with children. Charming, playful, and honest. I am having difficulty returning it to the library.
March 2, 2009
Rugs are so dogs have napkins. A book is to look at. A tablespoon is to eat a table with. A face is something to have on the front of your head.
I love, love, love this! I will have to buy this one, to borrow it is not enough.
I love, love, love this! I will have to buy this one, to borrow it is not enough.
February 22, 2025
laughed, cried, loved
February 22, 2025
a tablespoon is to eat a table with
January 9, 2015
This small book with its celery green cover and whimsical but simple drawings is a must-have for the adult with young children. My 1969 copy has fanciful black and white penned drawings with barn-red ink to describe what is going on. I understand that Ms. Krauss had children make suggestions and revisions before completing this little novelty. And with the exception of one minor issue with matches, the content is still up-to-date.
Anyone with young ones will realize in a heartbeat that the wordage comes from children:
"Arms are to hug with." Of course!
"Rugs are so dogs have napkins." Who knew?
"Steps are to sit on." Common sense at its finest.
"Mud is to jump in and slide in and yell doodleedoodleedoo". Does it get any better than this?
And the illustrations by Maurice Sendak. Wow. Take a look at the kids at the party and their silly hats. Be sure and notice the children that are dancing on their toes include both boys and girls. Remember, this was first published in 1952 and Mr. Sendak is definitely not sexist with his observations. How refreshing! And don't forget the cute little artwork found at the corner of some of the pages. Find your child(ren) now, sit down in your rocker and share some special time. Make happy memories.
Anyone with young ones will realize in a heartbeat that the wordage comes from children:
"Arms are to hug with." Of course!
"Rugs are so dogs have napkins." Who knew?
"Steps are to sit on." Common sense at its finest.
"Mud is to jump in and slide in and yell doodleedoodleedoo". Does it get any better than this?
And the illustrations by Maurice Sendak. Wow. Take a look at the kids at the party and their silly hats. Be sure and notice the children that are dancing on their toes include both boys and girls. Remember, this was first published in 1952 and Mr. Sendak is definitely not sexist with his observations. How refreshing! And don't forget the cute little artwork found at the corner of some of the pages. Find your child(ren) now, sit down in your rocker and share some special time. Make happy memories.
February 23, 2025
an excellent little book sure to delight
June 26, 2023
We've discovered a new favorite! The boys act out the wonderfully silly illustrations with gales of giggles!
May 30, 2025
Arms are to hug with
June 27, 2010
I learned that this book existed over at a discussion of a childhood favorite of mine: A Friend is Someone Who Likes You. This book was published in 1952 and I’m surprised that I don’t remember it as a part of my childhood, but I believe this is the first time I’ve read it.
It’s one I think I’d have enjoyed a lot more as a kid, especially as a kid in the 1950s. But, I did find it charming in its own way.
My favorite page was “Dogs are to kiss people” because how could I not fall in love with a page where so many drawn dogs appear. Adorable!
There is no plot here. The hole (and some other things) have a very few variations in their “definitions” but reading this is more like reading individual cartoons, but without the humor. So, no story and not very amusing, but it’s very sweet. And the tiny drawings are very appealing. I’m not normally a huge Sendak fan but I enjoyed his here, and (if I hadn’t seen his name) I wouldn’t have guessed he was the artist who created the artwork in this book.
It’s one I think I’d have enjoyed a lot more as a kid, especially as a kid in the 1950s. But, I did find it charming in its own way.
My favorite page was “Dogs are to kiss people” because how could I not fall in love with a page where so many drawn dogs appear. Adorable!
There is no plot here. The hole (and some other things) have a very few variations in their “definitions” but reading this is more like reading individual cartoons, but without the humor. So, no story and not very amusing, but it’s very sweet. And the tiny drawings are very appealing. I’m not normally a huge Sendak fan but I enjoyed his here, and (if I hadn’t seen his name) I wouldn’t have guessed he was the artist who created the artwork in this book.
July 21, 2017
Every time I read this and its companion books I fall in love with little children all over again. And I want to be a little child again, and never grow up, not even to be as old as Peter Pan. Krauss does a marvelous job of editing, while remaining, clearly, obviously true to the children's voices.
This time I'm thinking about the artwork. Sendak made the children fairly generic. I can't tell if he's drawn about half a dozen kids over & over, or if each is meant to be unique... but in any case his strategy makes it so they're pretty universal. True, there are no children with very dark skin, but there are no "token Blacks" either. The kids do charm, have personalities, but the art is not the kind that modern readers appreciate so much.
If this were reissued, who would be the best illustrator for the job? I'm thinking somebody who understands how to portray diversity, and who has a sense of humor and joy, and who isn't too fussy & doesn't work in oil.... Who has stepped into the shoes of Quentin Blake or Jules Feiffer?
This time I'm thinking about the artwork. Sendak made the children fairly generic. I can't tell if he's drawn about half a dozen kids over & over, or if each is meant to be unique... but in any case his strategy makes it so they're pretty universal. True, there are no children with very dark skin, but there are no "token Blacks" either. The kids do charm, have personalities, but the art is not the kind that modern readers appreciate so much.
If this were reissued, who would be the best illustrator for the job? I'm thinking somebody who understands how to portray diversity, and who has a sense of humor and joy, and who isn't too fussy & doesn't work in oil.... Who has stepped into the shoes of Quentin Blake or Jules Feiffer?
May 25, 2019
This just doesn't work. The wording is so clumsy for a lot of these definitions, I wonder if they're taken directly from preschoolers' mouths. "Dogs are to kiss people", "a castle is to build in the sand", and "a rock is when you trip on it" don't make a ton of sense. There are some definitions that do, grammatically speaking, but that just makes the ones that don't stand out all the more.
The black-and-white illustrations are okay, but I just can't get past the clumsy writing. I wouldn't recommend this one.
The black-and-white illustrations are okay, but I just can't get past the clumsy writing. I wouldn't recommend this one.
June 5, 2022
dogs are to kiss people
hands are to hold
buttons are to keep people warm
a rock is when you trip on it (you should have watched where you were going)
children are to love
a mountain is to go to the top
a mountain is to go to the bottom
a mustache is to wear on halloween
a wave is to wave bye-bye
a hole is to plant a flower
cats are so you can have a kitten
the sun is so it can be a great day
hands are to hold
buttons are to keep people warm
a rock is when you trip on it (you should have watched where you were going)
children are to love
a mountain is to go to the top
a mountain is to go to the bottom
a mustache is to wear on halloween
a wave is to wave bye-bye
a hole is to plant a flower
cats are so you can have a kitten
the sun is so it can be a great day
December 19, 2008
"The world is so you have something to stand on."
"The sun is so it can be a great day."
Cosi loves doing the actions associated with the definitions ("noses are to rub" or "ears are to wiggle."). I have never grown tired of reading this.
"The sun is so it can be a great day."
Cosi loves doing the actions associated with the definitions ("noses are to rub" or "ears are to wiggle."). I have never grown tired of reading this.
December 22, 2015
One of the best pictures books I've ever seen. It can be quite poetic, deep and philosophical. I've been wanting to read it for about 5 years now!
The ground is to make a garden.
Hands are to hold. Arms are to hug with.
A castle is to build in the sand.
The ground is to make a garden.
Hands are to hold. Arms are to hug with.
A castle is to build in the sand.
December 10, 2015
Sort of an example of 'kids say the darnedest things' about the meaning of words. Some of the definitions were cute, some left me indifferent. The illustrations weren't what I expected from Sendak. Overall, a quick but not particularly impressive book.
March 31, 2017
Remarkably funny considering it was written in 1952 before funny existed. The illustrations by Maurice Sendak are, of course, fabulous and the text is, too.
"A tablespoon is to eat a table with"
"A tablespoon is to eat a table with"
February 8, 2024
A coworker saw my scathing review of "Bears" and brought this book in for me to peruse as a counterpoint. She told me how it engaged her toddlers and gets on their wavelength.
This is more like it, Krauss! The humorous definitions deal with simple things that young kids would connect with, and Sendak's illustrations have such beautiful movement to them. It's almost animated, like looking at one of those old rotating zoetropes. Even the way he draws a static image of a kid sneezing--it somehow still moves on the page. It's amazing.
Also this is a great companion to Sendak's book, "Chicken Soup with Rice"
This is more like it, Krauss! The humorous definitions deal with simple things that young kids would connect with, and Sendak's illustrations have such beautiful movement to them. It's almost animated, like looking at one of those old rotating zoetropes. Even the way he draws a static image of a kid sneezing--it somehow still moves on the page. It's amazing.
Also this is a great companion to Sendak's book, "Chicken Soup with Rice"
September 18, 2019
Krauss's bold declarative statements, gleefully contradicted and enriched by competing definitions, marries beautifully to Sendak's detailed micro-doodles. A hole is to dig--and to hide in, and fall through, and for a mouse, and to plant seeds, and it's vibrantly childlike: stubborn and playful and creative. This isn't one I read as a kid, but I think I'd've liked it; as an adult reader, it's a delight.
June 1, 2020
This is a short children’s picture book that gives definitions to common words that young kids may use and used in contexts with which they would be familiar (e.g. hand, earth, dirt)
May 19, 2023
De simple, simpàtic i enginyós
August 30, 2020
This book is a gem for kids. We’ve read it for years since my child was very young. It’s a rare collector’s item now; the hardcover edition is auto-priced north of a $100 on the river website. I was at the Maurice Sendak exhibition at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in SF and scored a new copy, purely by blind luck.
What’s funny to me about the other reviews on here, especially the lackluster and negative reviews, is they seem to have totally missed the central device of this beautifully simple, nonsense book: that the objects in the book were the questions asked of kids, and the text is children’s answers. (tablespoon: “What is a tablespoon for?” → kid: “To eat a table!” “what are hands for?” → kid: “To hold!”, etc. )
People have no empathy, or no imagination, I guess.
Folks on here really writing reviews like “uh this says A Book of First Definitions but they seem kinda weird……” yes because they’re young kids’ definitions, my gentle smoothbrain, that’s it — that’s literally what the book is lol
What’s funny to me about the other reviews on here, especially the lackluster and negative reviews, is they seem to have totally missed the central device of this beautifully simple, nonsense book: that the objects in the book were the questions asked of kids, and the text is children’s answers. (tablespoon: “What is a tablespoon for?” → kid: “To eat a table!” “what are hands for?” → kid: “To hold!”, etc. )
People have no empathy, or no imagination, I guess.
Folks on here really writing reviews like “uh this says A Book of First Definitions but they seem kinda weird……” yes because they’re young kids’ definitions, my gentle smoothbrain, that’s it — that’s literally what the book is lol
July 26, 2010
the subtitle a first book of first definitions could be misleading and i can certainly understand the few "i dont get it" reviews on here. with a simple glance, there doesn't appear to be any rhyme or reason to the "definitions" krauss has put on these pages - but that is exactly why i love it.
for example: "a watch is to hear it tick" and right below it "dishes are to do" - these dictums or philosophies (as it could very well be) are random, simple, and merely a child's truth. they convey the innocence, warmth, and sincerity in a child's answer as to what and why things are. my 1yo can't speak in sentences yet, but i'm pretty excited about the to-the-point meanings and values i'll learn from him. also, sendak's illustrations in this are so endearing that i truly believe these pudgy-faced smiling children have not a care in the world and that life is GOOD. and though i've placed it on my "childrens" shelf, i really think it's adults who could learn from and appreciate this.
for example: "a watch is to hear it tick" and right below it "dishes are to do" - these dictums or philosophies (as it could very well be) are random, simple, and merely a child's truth. they convey the innocence, warmth, and sincerity in a child's answer as to what and why things are. my 1yo can't speak in sentences yet, but i'm pretty excited about the to-the-point meanings and values i'll learn from him. also, sendak's illustrations in this are so endearing that i truly believe these pudgy-faced smiling children have not a care in the world and that life is GOOD. and though i've placed it on my "childrens" shelf, i really think it's adults who could learn from and appreciate this.
January 22, 2009
I know, I know - this is a classic book for young people, and one that was even available WHEN I WAS A KID! Nevertheless, I hadn't read it before. It obviously has no plot, just a series of fanciful definitions accompanied by the first children's illustrations of Maurice Sendak. I was intrigued by some of the side things going on - odd animals and characters at the sides of pages, the diminution of traditional, restrictive manners lessons in favor of more enjoyable ("Hands are to hold" over "A hand is to hold up when you want your turn") or subversive ("Snow is to roll in" versus "Buttons are to keep people warm") or just common-sensical in a child's world ("The sun is to tell you when it's every day" matched with "When you make your bed you get a star" - and the little girl's response to the latter admonition is "Grr-rr.")
April 12, 2010
I have to admit I didn't really get this book, but my three-year-old son was completely engrossed. I had to take a look at it after reading so much about it in Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom.
January 29, 2013
"A hole is to dig"
"Arms are to hug with"
"The world is so you have something to stand on"
"A lap is so you don't get crumbs on the floor"
etc.
This is the sort of book I wish I had written. I love how she turns definitions on their heads. This would be a great book for kids to write their own definitions following her pattern. Maurice Sendak's pictures are delightful.
"Arms are to hug with"
"The world is so you have something to stand on"
"A lap is so you don't get crumbs on the floor"
etc.
This is the sort of book I wish I had written. I love how she turns definitions on their heads. This would be a great book for kids to write their own definitions following her pattern. Maurice Sendak's pictures are delightful.
May 13, 2022
Another book off the James Mustich 1000 books to read list. I think I read this as a kid, it seems familiar, but I read through it again. Sendak’s pictures are, of course, adorable, and the book is full of cute definitions. A hole is to dig, a dog is to kiss, hands are to hold, a lap is so you don’t get crumbs on the floor, etc. Cute book! A reminder to appreciate the simple things in life
Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews