PIG AND HORSE AND THE SOMETHING SCARY

Pig can’t stop thinking about something scary. Maybe Horse can help.

When Pig awakes feeling “a bit out of sorts,” she seeks out her friend Horse, who is full of ideas for making her feel better, from a bike ride in the sunshine and a swim in the bay to a good laugh. When these measures fail, Horse suggests that Pig invite “whatever-it-is” to tea—after all, “teatime brings out the best manners in everyone!” Only when the two have completed preparations for the meal does Pig feel ready to share what’s been weighing on her mind. As Pig opens up to Horse, the artwork portrays shadow archetypes representing Pig’s repressed fears, including a black, smokelike entity, a menacing blue fox, and a sticky purple substance. Fortunately, Horse was right. Tea, cake, a supportive friend, and the willingness to face her fears prove to be the perfect remedy for Pig’s perturbations. Abbott’s subtly droll text and soft gouache, colored pencil–and–sumi-ink illustrations work together to produce a picture book that feels classic yet not derivative. The story deftly probes the darker aspects of the human psyche and the challenging emotions all children experience without becoming too overwhelming for young readers. Horse, with her toothy grin and expressive eyes, brings just the right amount of humor and lightness. Both animals, drawn standing upright with rosy cheeks, are appealing and accessible protagonists who evoke some of the great friendships of children’s literature.

Gentle and effective.