HALF A PIG

A wild custody battle over a pig becomes the raison d’être for Ahlberg père’s latest deconstruction of the picture book. From an opening that directly addresses the reader (or listener) and lays out the various verbal ingredients for the story to come, to a conclusion that somewhat ruefully considers the ingredients that were left by the wayside, this story constantly draws attention to its artifice. Ahlberg fille’s cartoony illustrations romp across the page in a raucously choreographed dance with the text, employing arrows and diagrams that helpfully guide the reader (or listener) through the story. The actual story gleefully participates in almost every available cliché: Mr. Harbottle, Solomonically determined to have his half of the pig Esmeralda for sausages, hires the very dim Swiggins Brothers to do the deed. While Mrs. Harbottle frets, plucky neighbors Rose and Billy “(still in their pyjamas)” thwart the plan. The fun does not obscure the senior Ahlberg’s very serious commitment to words, and one can only hope that readers (and listeners) will take him up on his exhortation to use some good ones in stories of their own. (Picture book. 5-10)