A Mud Pie for Mother [Bargain Price] [Hardcover]

Scott Beck (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 31, 2003

The creator of Pepito the Brave, that "genuine poster-bird for pluckiness"(Publishers Weekly), returns with another small but determined hero, Little Pig.

It's Mother Pig's birthday, and her son has sneaked out of the pen to find a gift before she wakes up. Little Pig spies a great one-a pretty flower-but just as he is about to pluck it, a bee buzzes up and begs him not to. Little Pig cheerfully leaves the flower and searches for another gift, but each one he sees-fresh hay, shiny seeds, and even a lump of dirt-belongs to someone else in the farmyard. Little Pig's basket is empty, but his generous heart will lead him to the perfect present.

Using few words and crayon-bright colors, Scott Beck has crafted another sweet, spare picture book for preschoolers.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-Little Pig is looking for the perfect present for his mother. He tries a flower, but discovers that it is the bee's favorite. He sees shiny seeds on the ground, but finds that the hen was going to eat them. Everything he comes upon belongs to someone else. Just when it appears that he will return home empty-handed, the others, appreciative of the respect he has shown for their needs, reward him. Now, he has a variety of foods to give to his mom for her birthday breakfast. The cartoon illustrations, mostly spreads, are dominated by bright green grass and the perky pink pig. Each picture is outlined in blue crayon, giving the illusion of having been drawn by a child. Youngsters will enjoy this simple, upbeat story that quietly demonstrates the virtue of respecting another's property and needs.
Sheilah Kosco, Rapides Parish Library, Alexandria, LA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 1. When Little Pig ventures out to find the perfect birthday present for Mother Pig, he learns that the world is not necessarily his oyster--in fact, the oyster might belong to someone else! He ambles around the farm, assuming its bounty is his for the taking. He encounters resistance. First, a bee implores him not to pick the flower that is his favorite. Pig decides, instead, to take some hay for his mother, but the hay is the cow's bed. Even the dirt Pig wants to use for a mud pie turns out to be needed by someone else; it's crucial to the success of the farmer's wife's garden. Is Little Pig out of luck? In a plot twist, Pig is rewarded for his selfless nonpiggishness: the farmer's wife gives him bread, the cow offers milk, and the bee provides honey. Little Pig has a fine glop of slop for his mother's birthday breakfast after all. Beck neatly and completely teaches a simple lesson with a straightforward story line and adds charm with paintings reminiscent of Crockett Johnson's pictures for Ruth Krauss' The Carrot Seed (1989). ^B Karin Snelson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Children's Books (March 31, 2003)
• ISBN-10: 0525473793
• ISBN-13: 978-0525473794
• ASIN: B000C4SU4M
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #784,080 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful, September 9, 2006

By 

Chandra S. West - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Mud Pie for Mother (Hardcover)

My 3-year-old loves this book! We checked it out at the library during her summer reading program and, of the 40 books she "read", this was her favorite. She had me read it over and over until she memorized it and then she read it to us. I am now buying a copy for my niece.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Appealing to Three Year Old......, May 19, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: A Mud Pie for Mother (Hardcover)

Our 3 year old daughter absolutely loves this story. We borrowed it from the library and have read it daily since. Even our 8 year old loves it too, and volunteers to read it to her sister. Our 3 year old listens so intently to this story that she now reads it to us, almost verbatim. Last night she asked if the library would mind if we kept this book, that it is lovely book and she would like it for herself to read every day forever and ever! Well, here I am this morning ordering our very own copy! Can't get a better recommendation than that!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great farm animal story, April 14, 2004

By 

Erika Mitchell (E. Calais, VT USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Mud Pie for Mother (Hardcover)

A little pig wants to make a pie for his mother to give her for her birthday. He wanders through the barnyard, meeting other animals and talking to them. He doesn't pick the flower, because the bee likes it, and stays clear of the grain because the chicken is eating it. In the end, thanks to his friendliness and willingness to respect the needs of others, he is able to make his mother a very fine meal indeed. The story is not scary, and it's great for animal lovers. It has about 300 words.