Pigs and a Blanket

January 15, 2016
Two adorable Disney-esque pig siblings decide that sharing is the way to go. Each pig states love for "my blanket," a single item shared between the two, one for its softness and the other for its smell. They describe the activities they enjoy, most of which can be done side by side. The girl pig, marked with a purple hair bow, likes to read under it and make movies on it with her toys, while the boy pig likes to draw and play monster truck. But dancing with "my blanket" is a solo action, as is using it for a superhero cape. Inevitably an argument in the form of a tug of war ensues, and the blanket is ripped in two. The pigs retire to separate corners with their blanket halves to play alone, but they're clearly unhappy. They admit to missing each other and jury-rig repairs so their blanket is sort of together again. The text is composed of 14 statements in large, widely spaced black print and a giant red "RRRIIIIPPPPP!" on stark white background, itself a dynamic compositional element. All the action in this slight tale comes to life in the detailed cartoon illustrations of their activities and accouterments, rendered in colorful hues. The bright pink little pigs vividly display every emotion on their respective round and square faces. Burks avoids sliding into treacle, and the gentle message will be well-received by the littlest readers. A charmer. (Picture book. 2-5)

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February 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 2-Two piglet siblings have a mutual love for a fluffy, green blanket. Henrietta wraps one end of it cozily around her while she reads a book, as Henry snuggles beneath the other end and draws a picture. Lots of imaginative play happily coexists, but tensions run high when Henrietta's enthusiastic dance move steals the coverlet out from Henry's grasp. Burks's watercolor and ink cartoon illustrations show Henry retaliating by zooming away with the blanket tied under his chin like a superhero's cape. Told entirely through dialogue, the text consists of the characters' simple, declarative sentences as they convey the same sentiments: "Stop pulling on my blanket!" During a heated tug-of-war, their beloved blankie rips in two. The dueling pair silently and separately play with their own halves, but riffs and seams are soon mended. VERDICT A charming story of sharing and caring.-Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2016
Preschool-K Henry and Henrietta have a favorite blanket. They not only love the way it smells and feels but also love to use it in their various activities, such as reading and drawing. The pig siblings have one problem with the beloved article: they don't like to share it. An argument leads to a tug of war, and the blanket splits in half. Now that they have their own portion, they each have the freedom to play without fear of interruptions. But being apart makes them realize how much they miss each other's company. Burks, creator of the Bird and Squirrel graphic novel series, delivers a comical message of sharing and caring in his latest creation for the picture-book set. Little ones will be quickly drawn to Burks' eye-catching and action-packed scenes, particularly the appealingly blocky, bubble-gum-pink protagonists. His clever double-page spreads visually emphasize the competition between the siblings, while the large font punctuated with fun onomatopoeia and poignant wordless scenes make this ideal for a group storytime.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)