Piggy

October 10, 2016
An insatiable reader, Piggy spends his days poring over books in his personal library at the expense of making real-life friends. After Piggy finds himself with just one book left to read, he decides that he “should save this happy ending.” Wearing overalls and red eyeglasses as large as his head, the ingenuous piglet ventures outside and comes across a cat reading in a tree swing. Recognizing her as a potential friend, Piggy tries to catch her attention—even flying loop-the-loops in his open-cockpit plane—but the cat’s eyes never leave her book until Piggy simply introduces himself and shares his remaining book with her. Lai (Tomo Explores the World) gives Piggy a good amount of personality in his brassy cartoons (the character also features in digital animations created by Lai’s company, Up Studios), but the overall story is predictable and somewhat cloying. In the oddest moment, Piggy gives the cat, Kate, a pair of glasses that match his because she “couldn’t see the words in Piggy’s book clearly”—a strange revelation considering she has spent the entire book reading intently. Ages 3–6. Agent: Jennifer Rofé, Andrea Brown Literary.

February 1, 2018

PreS-K-In the story, Piggy-an adorable looking pig who wears huge red glasses and red overalls and loves to read-befriends a shy and lonely mole named Miles. Miles lives underground and longs to see the world above but is easily frightened. As a result, Miles stays underground and develops the unusual habit of sneezing whenever he is nervous. Piggy only meets Miles because the mole is unable to resist the scent of roses and freshly baked blueberry muffins coming from Piggy's yard. Piggy invites Miles to a tea party with his friends, but Miles's nervous habit of sneezing causes him to stumble, with his specially baked cake landing on his head. In embarrassment, Miles retreats underground. Piggy follows Miles, bringing along his friends and food. Soon enough, all the animals are having a good time, and Miles and Piggy have become good friends. The artwork is vibrant and the oversize emojilike heads of the characters will be appealing to young children. Further, there is comfort for all in the message that an unknown friend is right around the corner and that others can be openhearted and generous. Unfortunately, the story is a bit cloying and somewhat predictable. VERDICT This reassuring picture book will be enjoyed by fans of the first Piggy story.-Sally James, South Hillsborough Elementary School, CA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2017
Can Piggy befriend shy Miles the mole?Piggy once only spent time with his books, and then he met Kate the cat (Piggy, 2016). Now he's friends with all the animals in the forest...except for Miles, who lives under the forest. Miles wants to explore the world above, but he's scared; and when he gets nervous, he sneezes. One day he sticks his head aboveground. Piggy catches sight of Miles, who sneezes and flees. But then the scent of Kate's blueberry muffins draws Miles out. The aboveground duo invites Miles to a tea party the next day. Miles, cake in hand, tries to attend, but disaster sends him scuttling underground. Thank goodness Piggy and Kate (and the rest of the animals) know how to make friends. Lai's second Piggy tale featuring the eponymous star of his app is as flat and facile as the first. The digitally finished watercolor-and-pencil illustrations are colorful and cute but not enough to carry the package. Piggy's enormous, red-rimmed glasses (which Kate also needed in the previous book) are as much an authorially imposed affectation as Miles' stutter before each sneeze. Touches of the surreal--an image of Miles floating outside Kate's window and another in which characters interact with giant question marks--will confuse toddlers. Best bypass this pig. (Picture book. 2-5)

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