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Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Pigs to the Rescue, written and illustrated by John Himmelman. Henry Holt, H B Fenn, 2010. $19.99 ages 4 and up


"On Wednesday, Jeffrey Greenstalk got his kite stuck in a tree.
Pigs to the rescue!
'Well, you did get it out of the tree,
I guess,' said Jeffrey."

Kids will think this is a laugh riot! Farmer Greenstalk's disabled tractor begins the week's chain of unlikely events. When it breaks down, it's 'pigs to the rescue'. And so it goes with Mrs. Greenstalk and her garden hose, Jeffrey Greenstalk and his kite, Caleb the rooster and his sore throat, Emily Greenstalk and her shoelace, and Ernie the duck and his great sadness. When the pigs come to the rescue, hilarity and chaos ensue. You cannot believe the string of mishaps that are the result of their genuine interest in providing aid.

On Sunday when Lulu the cat spills her saucer of milk and the family quietly deals without porcine help, they are in for a big surprise!

Surprise endings are so much fun! They help teach young writers about the variety of ways in which their own stories might end. In this hilarious book, no words need be spoken to bring it to a memorable conclusion.

As in all great books, the text and artwork are a perfect match. The serenity of each day and its minor problem are forgotten when the pigs offer unsolicited help. There is much to see as they dash to bring their own special brand of assistance, and it's such fun to read!

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