Piggy Pie Po

August 30, 2010
While the three stories in this picture book are short on plot, they are filled with high-spirited acrylic paintings and rhymes that focus on a single character. The first story features Piggy Pie Po wearing different costumes as he engages in various activities (“If he wears his rubber fins,/ Piggy Pie Po swims and swims”), while the second tale offers demonstrations of the pig’s many artistic and academic talents (“For a penny he will spell/ pistachio and pimpernel”). In the last story, Piggy Pie Po goes on an eating binge, which ends badly when he eats a chili pepper: “So hot! So red!/ He ran straight home... and went to bed.” Like calendar photos of a potbellied porker, the illustrations (drawn by Audrey Wood and painted by Don) flip by accompanied by rhymes that are akin to (and will be as easily memorizable as) a rollicking nursery rhyme. As exuberant as the pigs in the Woods’ Piggies, this solo star will likewise appeal to toddlers, whether he’s dancing in his “party pants” or playing a bongo drum in a hula skirt. Ages 3–7.

August 1, 2010

PreS-K-Three vignettes follow the antics of an active and curious piglet. In the first narrative, the lovable character displays some of his special clothes and what he likes to do while wearing them. "Piggy Pie Po likes to dance/when he wears his party pants./If he wears his rubber fins, /Piggy Pie Po swims and swims." In the next, children hear about all the things the little piggy is good at. "For a penny he will spell pistachio and pimpernel./But there's one thing he can't do.../Piggy Pie can't tie his shoe-yet!" In the last tale, Piggy Pie Po arrives at dinner before the other guests and helps himself to the delicious feast but regrets his final, unfortunate sampling of a red hot pepper. The jolly, alliterative rhyme dances merrily on the tongue, and the paintings of the endearing pig's adventures are surrounded by generous white space. Particularly amusing are the illustrations of Piggy Pie's trip to the tub, where he wears "only bubbles, head to toes," and of his attempt to slurp the soup that's running down his head. Though perfect for storytime, the simple language and limited text per page will appeal to beginning readers as well. This sweet tale will have wide appeal.-Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2010
Preschool-K The energetic pig who cavorts through the three tiny stories comprising the Woods newest picture book may look familiar to the collaborative couples fanshe is clearly related to the 10 reddish-pink porkers from Piggies (1991). Whats different, though, is the simpler artwork, drawn by Audrey Wood, then painted by her husband, Don. Piggie Pie Po is the star of almost every page, a fact made clear by the generous white space surrounding, and emphasizing, his actions. The rhymes about what he wears (bubbles in the bathtub), his smarts (in everything but tying his shoes), and a singular eating escapade (which ends when he encounters a red-hot pepper) comprise the plots of each tale. They merrily scan, making for a fun read-aloud experience: He spilled the soup! / He didnt care. / He got it in his piggy hair. The accompanying porcine portrait, featuring an upended bowl between floppy ears and a self-satisfied expression on Piggies face as he slurps at a drip, is laugh-out-loud cute. A little gem.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2011
Three brief rhyming stories about a rambunctious pig feature preschooler-centric subject matter such as messy eating and costume changes for different activities: "When he wears his yellow coat, / Piggy Pie Po likes to boat." Exuberant acrylic paintings of Piggy in action set against lots of white space match the text's jaunty energy.

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)