There's a Pig in My Class!

August 1, 2014
A pig longs to join in the fun of school, but he needs the students' help to sneak inside. When a pig trots onto their schoolyard, the children aren't fazed a bit. They simply dress him up in a shirt and pants and bring him to class. After all, in school, everyone is included! With such a clever disguise (wink, wink), the teacher doesn't notice her new porcine pupil at all. Pig makes it through circle time, recess, lunchtime and naptime. But when he accidentally gets his shirt wet and the teacher tries to help him change his clothes, the pot-bellied ploy is up. This one-note Swedish import stumbles a bit in pacing (the climactic water scene is oddly disjointed), but young readers always enjoy a little adult deception. Ramel paints a wide range of multiethnic schoolchildren, and the background scenes repay examination. A small artistic quibble: The deliberate use of narrowed eyes tends to make the kids look conniving and angry. The story's ostensibly about being open and accepting, but really, it's mostly just about a pig hiding from a teacher. (Picture book. 3-6)

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July 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 1-During recess, a lonely pig from the farm next door breaks out of his pen and wants to go to school. The children quickly devise a plan to sneak him in by dressing him in their clothes-a sweater, pants, a scarf, and a hat. Once in the classroom, the new student enjoys making friends and an afternoon filled with storytime, playtime, lunch, and a nap. When the teacher, Tall Tina, discovers the pig after a bathroom break, she quickly shoos him back outside where he is once again the "loneliest pig in the world." A few pages later, Tall Tina finds a way for him to visit with his new friends by taking the class outside to learn about animals and nature. The detailed, pastel-hued illustrations fit the mood of this entertaining story.-Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga Public Library System, OH

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