Oops

October 1, 2006
PreS-Gr 4-As a pig family gathers round a table at mealtime, one piglet spills his milk. This seemingly innocuous accident unleashes an unfortunate and elaborate chain of events in this wordless picture book. As the milk seeps through a vent, it drips into a paint tray in the workroom below, causing it to tip over and fall, knocking over some tools on its way to the floor. A few more steps down the chain and a table saw is unleashed, cutting its way through one of the main supports of the house. As the dwelling careens away from the terraced hillside onto which it is built, pipes burst, weakening the roots of the tree bearing the childrens tree house. And on it goes. Despite the destruction, humorous touches in Geiserts characteristic colored etchings lighten the tragedy, and there is a happy ending. Children will enjoy poring over the detailed illustrations, figuring out how one thing leads to another, and noticing more and more upon repeated viewings. Although this family might well want to cry over spilt milk, they are intact and smiling at the end, standing together amid the wreckage of their home."Robin L. Gibson, Granville Parent Cooperative Preschool, OH"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2006
Geisert gives new meaning to the saying "Don't cry over spilt milk." This wordless tale begins when a pig child spills its milk in the house, which is cantilevered on the edge of a river valley. The milk sets off a complex chain reaction that ultimately destroys the home. Miraculously, no one is hurt, and the final scene shows the family together, surrounded by the shambles of their house, smiling at one another in a way that shows their happiness at just being alive. As in his book " Lights Out" (2005), Geisert uses his signature colored etchings to create a comfortable pig family and a complex (and outrageous) chain of events. However, this time he uses a much lighter palette to convey the sunny, peaceful valley, and his story has a much different outcome. Some children will make comparisons to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina and possibly find comfort in the positive aspects of survival; others will simply enjoy Geisert's clever engineering.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)