Pig and Pug

April 13, 2015
Pig and Pug should be instant friends—they are both cute, petite, and full of energy. But Pug insists on addressing Pig as “Pug” (actually, “a pudgy Pug”), and Pig doesn’t like it one bit. After some tussling, a lot of contradictory gainsaying (“ ‘Yes, you are,’ says Pug to Pig. ‘Am not!’ says Pig”), and some table-turning thanks to an encounter with a muddy hole (“Pug, the muddy Pig,” declares Pig, feeling quite clever), the two seem to be on the road to friendship, “at least for now.” Although Berry’s (What Floats in a Moat?) repartee may remind readers of the silly arguments they have had with siblings and friends, it’s not quite enough to hang a story on. Similarly, Correll’s (What I Wore Today) almost totemic characters, boldly outlined and set against white space or solid colors, start out full of promise, only to quickly reveal the limitations of their expressiveness. It’s closer to the beginning of a lifelong rivalry than a beautiful friendship. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio. Illustrator’s agent: Sylvie Hamel, Anna Goodson Illustration Agency.

Starred review from April 1, 2015
How do two tiny critters get to be friends? Sometimes it takes a bit of an effort. At first glance, Pig and Pug seem perfectly matched potential pals-until they get to know each other. They have so much in common: they are teeny, with adorable wide-eyed faces, and travel in style, Pug in a purse and Pig in a pocket. Like many a blind date, things start off well. Their eyes meet, and the small talk begins. That's when things get sticky. Confusion sets in: Pug insists that Pig is a pug and hollers, "Oh! Pig! Pig the Pudgy Pug!" Pig takes umbrage at the slight. Poking, pouncing, and further name-calling commence, and soon these two pocket-sized competitors are so exhausted that they have to call timeout. Frequently repeated simple words, many in speech bubbles, make this an excellent choice for new readers, especially kids who love readers' theater and partner reading. Cartoon-style illustrations feature especially expressive eye and ear movement to telegraph the animals' emotions. The teal and off-red background color scheme matches the characters' clothing and gives everything a warm retro feel. Especially effective are two double-page spreads in which Pug finds himself rolling in the mud (like a pig?), setting up rapprochement. New readers will find two new frenemies to love here. Bravo, Pig and Pug! (Picture book. 3-8)

May 1, 2015

PreS-K-Pig and Pug spot each other and confusion immediately arises about whether Pig is a pug and if Pug might actually be a pig. Initially excited by the sight of someone the same size and shape, the diminutive pair eventually find themselves disagreeing and taunting each other. After a time out leads to a tumble into the mud for Pug, the two apologize and become friends...but only for a moment. With a simple color palette, the digital artwork is soothing to the eyes as well as humorously appealing. The minimal text gets the emotions across by not overly explaining what's going in. Children will laugh as Pig and Pug argue. Fans of books that utilize a limited vocabulary, like Jeff Mack's Ah Ha (Chronicle, 2013) and David LaRochelle's Moo! (Bloomsbury, 2014) will delight in the silly squabbles. VERDICT A fun addition to most picture book collections.-Paige Garrison, Aurora Central Public Library, CO

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