From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1-Fresh and funny illustrations in an eye-popping array of bright hues enliven brief, understated pairings of good and poor behavior choices. For example, "This little piggy- put her playthings away./This little piggy pouted./This little piggy- spoke kindly to others./This little piggy shouted." These lessons are miles from the dull and didactic, though, as readers follow an engaging animal cast peppered with close-ups of pink piggies in humorous situations. Word balloons show a polite piggy complimenting a wolf on his beautiful teeth, while the wolf thinks, "I guess I won't eat him." Clever use of the page shows a shouting piggy with an enormous stream of words coming out of her mouth, the force of which knocks down animals in its wake. Generous use of bright red, electric blue, and school-bus yellow adds to the fun. Teachers encouraging young children to help create positive group experiences will welcome this lively addition.
Faith Brautigam, Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, ILCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
PreS-Gr. 2. In this clever tale of etiquette and edification, piggish behavior takes on new meaning. Like Karen Katz's
No Biting! (2002) and Martine Agassi's
Hands Are Not for Hitting (2000),
Piggy gives behavioral cues to little ones still focused on their own worldview and parents fighting the good fight in the war on rude behavior. Comparing the boorish attitude of one pig to the polite demeanor of another, the lesson continually reinforced is positive feedback comes from positive behavior. From the sharing of toys to sloppy table manners (called "utterly disgusting" by a bovine dining companion), the book draws upon situations that will be very familiar to youngsters. The biggest drawback of this fun, funny frolic is that the exemplary manners of the proper porker don't hold a candle to the laugh-out-loud antics of the socially impaired piglet--the one sure to leave a lasting impression on a giggly target audience. Wolff's signature four-legged friends lend a hip, contemporary edge to this swine-time tale.
Terry GloverCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
