diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/treeops/data_tree_navigator.go b/pkg/yqlib/treeops/data_tree_navigator.go
index be30b8c5..08f0edeb 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/treeops/data_tree_navigator.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/treeops/data_tree_navigator.go
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@ func (d *dataTreeNavigator) getMatchingNodes(matchingNodes *orderedmap.OrderedMa
 		return matchingNodes, nil
 	} else if pathNode.PathElement.PathElementType == PathKey {
 		return d.traverse(matchingNodes, pathNode.PathElement)
+	} else if pathNode.PathElement.PathElementType == Value {
+		return nodeToMap(BuildCandidateNodeFrom(pathNode.PathElement)), nil
 	} else {
 		handler := pathNode.PathElement.OperationType.Handler
 		if handler != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/treeops/data_tree_navigator_test.go b/pkg/yqlib/treeops/data_tree_navigator_test.go
index 1d8f52e2..e0d2c00d 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/treeops/data_tree_navigator_test.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/treeops/data_tree_navigator_test.go
@@ -625,12 +625,12 @@ func TestDataTreeNavigatorArraySimple(t *testing.T) {
 	test.AssertResult(t, expected, resultsToString(results))
 }
 
-func TestDataTreeNavigatorSimpleAssign(t *testing.T) {
+func TestDataTreeNavigatorSimpleAssignCmd(t *testing.T) {
 
 	nodes := readDoc(t, `a: 
   b: apple`)
 
-	path, errPath := treeCreator.ParsePath("a.b := frog")
+	path, errPath := treeCreator.ParsePath(`.a.b |= "frog"`)
 	if errPath != nil {
 		t.Error(errPath)
 	}
@@ -650,6 +650,80 @@ func TestDataTreeNavigatorSimpleAssign(t *testing.T) {
 	test.AssertResult(t, expected, resultsToString(results))
 }
 
+func TestDataTreeNavigatorSimpleAssignNumberCmd(t *testing.T) {
+
+	nodes := readDoc(t, `a: 
+  b: apple`)
+
+	path, errPath := treeCreator.ParsePath(`.a.b |= 5`)
+	if errPath != nil {
+		t.Error(errPath)
+	}
+	results, errNav := treeNavigator.GetMatchingNodes(nodes, path)
+
+	if errNav != nil {
+		t.Error(errNav)
+	}
+
+	expected := `
+-- Node --
+  Document 0, path: [a b]
+  Tag: !!int, Kind: ScalarNode, Anchor: 
+  5
+`
+
+	test.AssertResult(t, expected, resultsToString(results))
+}
+
+func TestDataTreeNavigatorSimpleAssignFloatCmd(t *testing.T) {
+
+	nodes := readDoc(t, `a: 
+  b: apple`)
+
+	path, errPath := treeCreator.ParsePath(`.a.b |= 3.142`)
+	if errPath != nil {
+		t.Error(errPath)
+	}
+	results, errNav := treeNavigator.GetMatchingNodes(nodes, path)
+
+	if errNav != nil {
+		t.Error(errNav)
+	}
+
+	expected := `
+-- Node --
+  Document 0, path: [a b]
+  Tag: !!float, Kind: ScalarNode, Anchor: 
+  3.142
+`
+
+	test.AssertResult(t, expected, resultsToString(results))
+}
+
+func TestDataTreeNavigatorSimpleAssignBooleanCmd(t *testing.T) {
+
+	nodes := readDoc(t, `a: 
+  b: apple`)
+	path, errPath := treeCreator.ParsePath(`.a.b |= true`)
+	if errPath != nil {
+		t.Error(errPath)
+	}
+	results, errNav := treeNavigator.GetMatchingNodes(nodes, path)
+
+	if errNav != nil {
+		t.Error(errNav)
+	}
+
+	expected := `
+-- Node --
+  Document 0, path: [a b]
+  Tag: !!bool, Kind: ScalarNode, Anchor: 
+  true
+`
+
+	test.AssertResult(t, expected, resultsToString(results))
+}
+
 func TestDataTreeNavigatorSimpleAssignSelf(t *testing.T) {
 
 	nodes := readDoc(t, `a: 
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/treeops/value_node_builder.go b/pkg/yqlib/treeops/value_node_builder.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2a7203f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/treeops/value_node_builder.go
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+package treeops
+
+import "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
+
+func BuildCandidateNodeFrom(p *PathElement) *CandidateNode {
+	var node yaml.Node = yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.ScalarNode}
+	node.Value = p.StringValue
+
+	switch p.Value.(type) {
+	case float32, float64:
+		node.Tag = "!!float"
+	case int, int64, int32:
+		node.Tag = "!!int"
+	case bool:
+		node.Tag = "!!bool"
+	case string:
+		node.Tag = "!!str"
+	}
+	return &CandidateNode{Node: &node}
+}