RULES OF THE WILD

“Eat whatever you like” or “You can stay up all night.” With a pig for a mother, or a fruit bat father, these rules might apply, and in this appealing offering by first-time author and illustrator, children get a chance to live like animals. They’ll have a good time doing it, too. In Shepherd’s humorous full-bleed spreads, rendered in oil and gesso on paper, Mother Piggy smiles approvingly as a boy balances over his head 18 arcing scoops on an ice cream cone. On the next spread, he prances in pajamas under the light of the moon, while his nocturnal parents, hanging from a tree, watch with wide eyes. A clever chart is included at the end, asking, “Are you allowed to . . . ” Animal faces line the top; alternative question endings (“. . . burp out loud?”; “. . . dunk food in your drink?”) run down the side and the yes and no answers tell all. Lessons with levity. (Picture book. 3-8)