Pig & Goose and the First Day of Spring

January 23, 2017
Limited vocabulary doesn’t mean early readers can’t be lyrical. Bond (Out of the Woods) demonstrates as much in a passage about spring: “They watched the wind play in the new leaves. Everything whispered and waved and danced.” Three linked stories accompanied by fanciful pen-and-wash drawings explore the theme of identifying gifts. In the first, Pig tries to learn how to fly like her new friend Goose, but fails (“I have never seen a pig fly,” Pig admits). Next, she admires Goose’s ability to swim (“Swimming is so elegant. So graceful. So quiet. I am none of those things”). When Pig throws a marvelous party, though, it’s Goose who’s impressed: “ ‘Pig,’ whispered Goose, ‘you are wonderful.’ ” Innocent exclamations abound (“Goody gumdrops!”), and so do sincere and generous sentiments. Pig is rosy cheeked and ample waisted, and wears rather dumpy clothing, while Goose is sleek and handsome. Yet it’s Pig who keeps her guests enthralled and who pays attention to beauty. It’s a quiet but effective reminder that an individual’s appearance and skills are not the source of his or her worth. Ages 5–8. Agency: Studio Goodwin Sturges.

Starred review from March 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 2-This delightful transitional reader, dedicated to Arnold Lobel, celebrates the joy of new friendship. In the first chapter, Pig fixes herself a picnic on a beautiful day. The small white dot she spies turns out to be Goose, who lands right beside her. When Pig admires her new acquaintance's flying skills, Goose offers to teach her. But try as Pig might-and she is quite determined-she cannot leave the ground. "Pig put her head back and laughed loudly. Goose held his belly and laughed, too. They rolled in the road and snorted and honked. They laughed until they cried." In the second chapter, the new friends share Pig's picnic by the pond. Afterward, they rest, and Pig dreams she is flying. When she awakens, Goose is gone. The porker again notices a dot-this time in the water-getting larger and larger. " Wow!' exclaimed Pig. You can swim, too!' Goose blushed. Gosh, ' he said, it is nothing. All geese can swim.' " Pig asserts that swimming is elegant, graceful, and quiet but laments that she herself is none of these things. The modest bird assures his friend that she has other talents. Brightening, Pig invites Goose to a "First-Day-of-Spring Party." In the final chapter, Pig hosts her party, which features many friends, delicious food, stories, and dancing. "'Pig, ' whispered Goose, 'you are wonderful'. 'Really?' Pig said, blushing. 'Me?' 'Yes, ' said Goose, 'you.' " Late that night, they tell each other how happy they are to be friends and make plans for another outing. The delicate watercolor and ink illustrations are as pleasing as the heartwarming text, which will appeal to children and their grown-ups. VERDICT A lovely story to share with preschoolers and young independent readers. An excellent selection.-Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 15, 2017
An unlikely friendship between a portly pig and a graceful goose blooms in a springtime story infused with compassion and gentle humor. When Pig observes Goose's grace in flight, she asks the fowl to teach her. Pig's attempts at flying are laugh-out-loud funny, but it's a shared laugh, not at either character's expense. Despite their considerable differences, the two charmingly anthropomorphic animals become friends. "Goody gumdrops!" sums up Pig's perennially positive attitude, so her disappointment when she cannot learn to fly like Goose is palpable. Her amazement at Goose's ability to swim is equally believable, causing her to rue that she is not "elegant," "graceful," or "quiet," like Goose. Goose graciously points out that Pig is "other things." Goose is gratifyingly appreciative of Pig's delicious cooking, her skills as a hostess and raconteur, and her infectious enthusiasm for picnics and parties. Bond breaks the fairly extensive text into three chapters, making the story feel approachable while giving new readers a sense of accomplishment. Simple, repetitive vocabulary and no more than eight lines of text per page help make the story accessible. With 48 pages and an on-the-large-side 7-by-9-inch trim size, the book leaves plenty of space for Bond's expressive watercolor illustrations on every page. Find Pig and Goose a place on the friendship shelf with the likes of Frog and Toad, Elephant and Piggie, and Houndsley and Catina. (Early reader. 5-8)

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