Here a Pig, There a Pig

I'll be the first to tell you that there is no greater pig than Wilbur of Charlotte's Web. However, if you or your little one needs a pig fix, check out these great new books featuring glorious swine.



Pig-A-Boo: A Farmyard Peekaboo Book by Dorothea DePrisco, illustrated by Treesha Runnells

For your youngest child, this colorful new board book encourages children to lift flaps and touch textured patches on different farm animals. On the left of each two-page spread is a riddle such as, "I went to the farm, and what did I see?" A pink pig is sprawled across the spread, covering its eyes with its hooves. Children lift the fold-out flap on the right and see the pig with its eyes uncovered rolling in the mud. The text says, "Oink-a-boo! A big chubby pig looking at me!" A soft textured cut-out is on the pig's chest.

The book goes through a number of farmyard animals - horse, chicken, sheep, and cow - using the same format. This is a great choice for babies and toddlers who love to play peek-a-boo.

Little Simon | May 2009 | Source: Library | Buy at an independent bookstore | Buy from Amazon





Being a Pig is Nice: A Child's-Eye View of Manners by Sally Lloyd-Jones, illustrated by Dan Krall

"When you're a kid it's not good because your mom is always telling you, 'Remember to be polite! And when you go to other people's houses take your manners with you, please. Thank you.'"

So begins this super cute book featuring a little girl who imagines what it would be like to be different types of creatures whose good manners are considered bad manners to humans. For example, it's very rude to be clean when you're a pig. If you're not muddy, then you get in trouble. Or when you're an owl, being quiet at night is completely inexcusable. But my favorite part is when the little girl imagines being a monster where "you can do anything you want (as long as it's Bad and Naughty and Awful and Monstrous)."

This book is a perfect combination of funny text and hilarious illustrations that would make an excellent read aloud. Kids will definitely laugh out loud and ask for it to be read again and again.

Schwartz & Wade | May 2009 | Source: Review copy from publisher |
Buy at an independent bookstore | Buy from Amazon




Princess Pig by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Tim Bowers

On a windy day, the sash blows off of the Pickle Princess during the Picawash County Farm Show Parade and lands on a sleeping pig at a nearby farm. When Pig wakes up, she's convinced that she's a princess and tries to convince the other animals who aren't so sure of her newfound royalty. When Goat tells her that princesses wear crowns, Pig makes a crown out of a teacup. When Rooster tells her she doesn't smell like a princess, Pig rolls in honeysuckle. Soon, all of the animals are convinced Pig is a princess and start taking orders from her. That is everyone except Pony, but who wants to listen to a naysayer? Soon Pig realizes that being a princess is kind of lonely and may want to reconsider Pony's wise words.

This is a truly adorable story that will appeal to many children. The illustrations are very cute, and kids will laugh at the different ways that Pig tries to convince others, including herself, that she's a princess. Highly recommended.



Knopf | June 2009 | Source: Review copy from publisher | Buy at an independent bookstore | Buy from Amazon