It's a Big World, Little Pig!

March 12, 2012
Poppy the pig, the figure-skating star of 2011’s Dream Big, Little Pig!, is headed to Paris for the World Games and worried about being so far from home. Poppy’s family and friends offer encouragement before she leaves (“emember that everyone smiles in the same language”), and, sure enough, Poppy makes friends easily upon her arrival. The heroine’s parents materialize out of nowhere after Poppy’s skating routine, negating the sense of accomplishment and independence that had been building. Bowers’s cartoons are warm and buoyant, yet the alignment of certain animals (panda, crane, kangaroo) with certain countries (China, Japan, Australia) draws unfortunate attention to the fact that Poppy, the U.S. representative, is a pig. Ages 4–up. Illustrator’s agent: Rubin Pfeffer, East West Literary Agency.

February 15, 2012
An invitation to the "World Games" leads to international friendships for the porky little skating star introduced in Dream Big, Little Pig (2011). Though Paris is far away from New Pork City, little Poppy quickly loses her initial anxiety at being among strangers from many countries. As her BF Emma puts it: "everyone smiles in the same language!" In no time, she's hooked up with a snowboarder from China ("Ni hao") and found common ground with an Italian skier in the music of Poochini ("Buona fortuna!"). She discusses costume design with a fellow skater from Japan ("Ganbatte kudasai"), then gives a nervous Aussie speed skater a pep talk (parting with a "hooroo!"). Promoting the proper air of bright bonhomie, Bowers dresses a diverse cast of happy-looking, big-headed animals in sportswear or casual clothing and leaves the airy backgrounds either blank or lightly traced with arabesques and swooping curves. Finally, having "skated from her heart" in the competition, Poppy joins her proud parents for a week of French food (laying off the charcuterie, one hopes), sightseeing and sending postcards. It's another sweet confection, with nary a mention of winning or losing--for those who like their international encounters on the bland side. (Picture book. 6-8)

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May 1, 2012

PreS-K-A sequel to the author's Dream Big, Little Pig (Sourcebooks, 2011), this book has Poppy following her dreams by skating at a world competition, even though it is pretty scary to travel so far from home. However, the irrepressible porker perseveres, goes to Paris, makes new friends in the World Athlete Village, and, eventually, skates her best. Accompanied by cheerful illustrations of Poppy happily skating and interacting with her friends from other countries, the book emphasizes the intangible rewards of taking on challenges and learning about the world rather than winning (there are no trophies in sight and readers are merely told that Poppy "skated from her heart"). Although not an essential purchase, the book has a timely topic, and its intrepid heroine makes it particularly attractive to youngsters.-Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.