The three little piglets in this rambunctious tale, like most wee ones, have a knack for getting downright filthy. Mama Pig, however, prefers her children when they are clean and smelling fresh. Despite their loud protests, Mama carries her piglets off to a bath. But oh how they squeal and squeak while in the hated tub. Mama gets her brain working and thinks up some creative cures for their unhappiness. First she adds some bubbles and the piglets find them pretty and tickly and loads of fun. Mama Pig has more surprises up her sleeve: she supplies rubber duckies and to top it off “ . . . she splooshed and she swooshed and galooshed them all over.” And it’s a grand time for all. When her piglets are patted dry and snug in beds Mama decides she needs a bit of pampering herself. But she is surprised to find that her bath-time creativity may have backfired and that her piglets have decided that “ . . . because baths are the BEST FUN EVER!” hadn’t they better hurry and get grubby again. Perfect for bath-time, but great for lap time, Puttock’s (A Story for Hippo, 2001, etc.) read is good-humored and filled with bubbly language. Children will revel in the kid-sized cliffhangers as they anticipate the next bath ingredient. McQuillan (Get Well Soon Book, not reviewed) illuminates the story with her brushstroke textures of pudgy cuteness brightened with sparkling colors on silky paper. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: April 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-316-78816-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2002
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together.
A clueless duckling tries to make a new friend.
He is confused by this peculiar-looking duck, who has a long tail, doesn’t waddle and likes to be alone. No matter how explicitly the creature denies he is a duck and announces that he is a cat, the duckling refuses to acknowledge the facts. When this creature expresses complete lack of interest in playing puddle stomp, the little ducking goes off and plays on his own. But the cat is not without remorse for rejecting an offered friendship. Of course it all ends happily, with the two new friends enjoying each other’s company. Bramsen employs brief sentences and the simplest of rhymes to tell this slight tale. The two heroes are meticulously drawn with endearing, expressive faces and body language, and their feathers and fur appear textured and touchable. Even the detailed tree bark and grass seem three-dimensional. There are single- and double-page spreads, panels surrounded by white space and circular and oval frames, all in a variety of eye-pleasing juxtapositions. While the initial appeal is solidly visual, young readers will get the gentle message that friendship is not something to take for granted but is to be embraced with open arms—or paws and webbed feet.
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-375-86990-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 13, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2012
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