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Sam & Dave Dig a Hole
Written by Mac Barnett
Illustrated by Jon Klassen
Candlewick Press      10/14/2015
978-0-7636-6229-5
32 pages      Age 4—8

“Sam and Dave are digging a hole, and they will not stop until they find something spectacular.” [inside jacket]

Review
The premise of Sam & Dave Dig a Hole is simple:  the two boys are on a mission to find something spectacular and are determined to dig until they find something. They could find a dinosaur bone or maybe dig all the way to China. Along with Sam and Dave is their dog (no name). When the boys fail to find something after digging a hole “so deep their heads were underground,” Sam and Dave change course and dig sideways, then they split up and dig up on a diagonal, then back down again until, tired from digging, the two boys fall asleep. All the while Sam and Dave find nothing, until . . .

I enjoyed Sam & Dave Dig a Hole immensely. This is a delightful book young children, especially young boys, will enjoy. The humor is subtle—just under the surface (pun intended). While Sam and Dave dig, with their dog keeping a watchful eye, their cat sits atop the hole looking in at the boys’ progress. You will need to look closely at all the detail, in every item, in each relatively sparse spread, but if you do, the payoff is a huge laugh. The illustrations are engagingly simple, rendered digitally and in colored pencil by Caldecott Medal winner Jon Klassen. Sam & Dave Dig a Hole is about persistence, the willingness to change course, and finding the spectacular where you are and where you go. Sam and Dave exert a tremendous amount of energy trying to find something spectacular. They finally find it, and learn that the journey can be just as spectacular as the “thing” they are yearning to find.

Has something been out of your reach and you wonder if you should keep trying? If so, read Sam & Dave Dig a Hole, because sometimes what seems out of reach is closer than you think. Perfect for story time readings and afternoon fun.

SAM AND DAVE DIG A HOLE. Text copyright © 2014 by Mac Barnett. Illustrations copyright © 2014 by Jon Klassen. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Somerville, MA.

Purchase Sam & Dave Dig a Hole at Amazon—Book Depository—Candlewick Press.

Learn more about Sam & Dave Dig a Hole HERE.
A Story-Hour Kit can be found HERE.
“Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen Make a Book” transcript found HERE.

Meet the author, Mac Barnett, at his website:  http://www.macbarnett.com/
Meet the illustrator, Jon Klassen, at his website:  http://jonklassen.tumblr.com/
Find more picture books at the Candlewick Press website:  http://www.candlewick.com/

AWARDS
Caldecott Medal Honor Book
E. B. White Read Aloud Award
Irma S and James H Black Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature
Wanda Gág Read Aloud Book Award
New York Times Best Seller
New York Times Notable Book
Washington Post Best Children’s Book of 2014
PBS Best Picture Book of 2014
Guardian Best Book of 2014
Horn Book Fanfare Best Book of 2014
Kirkus Best Book of 2014
Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2014
Globe & Mail 100 Best Books of 2014 Selection
Huffington Post Best Picture Book of 2014
BuzzFeed Best Picture Book of 2014
Association for Library Service to Children Notables Selection
Toronto Public Library First & Best Book of 2014
Reading Today Best Picture Book of 2014
Junior Library Guild Selection

Copyright © 2015 by Sue Morris/Kid Lit Reviews. All Rights Reserved

Full Disclosure: Sam & Dave Dig a Hole, by Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen, and received from Candlewick Press, is in exchange NOT for a positive review, but for an HONEST review. The opinions expressed are my own and no one else’s. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

By Nigel Boardman

The new UK Bribery Act 2010 (“the Bribery Act”) came into force on 1 July 2011, and, according to the guidance issued by the UK Government (“the Government Guidance”; see The Bribery Act 2010: Guidance), is intended to contribute to wider international efforts to combat bribery.

While targeting all forms of bribery, the Bribery Act has significant implications for commercial organisations. In addition to the general offences of bribing another (section 1) and being bribed (section 2) (both of which may be committed by a company), the Bribery Act created two offences which target commercial bribery: under section 6, it is an offence to bribe a foreign public official with the intention of obtaining or retaining business or a business advantage; and section 7 makes it an offence for a “relevant commercial organisation” to fail to prevent an “associated person” from bribing another with the intention of obtaining or retaining business or a business advantage for the organisation.

Importantly, the Bribery Act has extra-territorial effect. Liability is imposed irrespective of whether the act or omission which forms part of the offence took place in the UK or elsewhere. Furthermore, the provisions of section 7 are not limited to companies and partnerships which are incorporated or formed in the UK, but extend to foreign companies and partnerships which carry on a business, or any part of a business, in any part of the UK.

The consequences of conviction for an offence under the Bribery Act are severe, and may include the payment of unlimited fines, debarment from EU government contracts and (for individuals) imprisonment for up to 14 years.

In his introduction to the Government Guidance, the UK Secretary of State for Justice, Kenneth Clarke, states that the Bribery Act’s provisions are aimed at “making life difficult for the mavericks responsible for corruption, not unduly burdening the vast majority of decent, law-abiding firms.” Nevertheless, any organisation which considers that it may be a “relevant commercial organisation” for the purposes of the Bribery Act would be well-advised to introduce internal anti-bribery procedures. If nothing else, the existence within an organisation of adequate procedures designed to combat bribery may serve as a defence to liability under section 7, which is otherwise strict.

The Government Guidance is focussed, in large part, on advising organisations on appropriate anti-bribery procedures. It expounds six key principles which are not prescriptive, but which, it is suggested, should form the basis of any business’ anti-bribery policy.

A rigorous anti-bribery policy, devised in accordance with the Government Guidance, will be imperative for those participating in M&A transactions, which can present considerable risks from bribery. Such transactions generally result in a commercial organisation acquiring new associated persons whose conduct may expose the acquirer to liability under the Bribery Act. In addition, joint venture partners are likely to fall within the meaning of “associated persons”, and thus each participant in the venture could be prosecuted for an offence committed by its partner.

As part of such a policy, due diligence should be carried out throughout the M&A procedure, in which the risks of bribery are identified and addressed, and parties to transactions may wish to negotiate additional contractual protections in the form of warranties and indemnities to reduce their exposure to liability under the Bribery Act for the conduct of their associates.

Clearly the nature and extent of an organisation’s exposure to bribery-related offences will depend on the form and circumstances of the deal in question. By way of example, an organisation should be cautious in respect of transactions in a country in which there is a high level of co