Captain Small Pig

February 15, 2010
Three distinct personalities emerge in Waddell's (The Super Hungry Dinosaur
) story of a day spent on the lake. Small Pig is thrilled about going for a row in a boat. Turkey is less enthusiastic (“Turkeys don't go in boats”), but he acquiesces, following the lead of Old Goat, who says, “Neither do goats,” as he climbs aboard. Throughout the day, this pattern repeats, with Old Goat's patience balancing Turkey's grouchiness. When Small Pig wants to fish for whales, Turkey snaps that there are no whales in the lake, while Old Goat concedes, “There might be a very small whale.” Though the relationship between the characters is left open-ended, Turkey and Old Goat play parental roles, and readers may recognize their own guardians' temperaments in the older characters. Though Turkey tumbles into the water as they dock the boat, Small Pig has a perfect day. Despite the gentle domestic squabbling, the animals' love for Small Pig is abundantly evident in Varley's (The Monster Bed
) light-infused pen-and-ink art, which emphasizes the tenderness of their interactions and the tranquility of the setting. Ages 4–8.

March 1, 2010
PreS-Gr 1-Waddell and Varley take readers on an enjoyable excursion. Old Goat and Turkeyacting like a snappish uncle and a patient grandfathertake Small Pig to the lake, where the youngster expresses an ardent desire that they go rowing. "'Turkeys don't go in boats, ' Turkey said. 'Neither do goats, ' said Old Goat, but he climbed into the boat, and they rowed off onto Blue Lake." This pattern repeats: Small Pig makes a wish, Turkey responds negatively, and Old Goat patiently indulges him. The sun sets, the moon rises, and Little Pig falls asleepand oh yesTurkey falls into the water as Old Goat is mooring the rowboat. While the linear narrative may, for some, raise expectations of a more substantial story, this title succeeds simply as a glimpse into a child's world. Varley's gently colored pen and ink drawings have a touch of Beatrix Potter-style magic, though the use of white background in some of the night scenes is confusing. Despite minor imperfections, "Captain Small Pig" will entice readers with its droll characterizations and splendid pictures."Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from February 15, 2010
Preschool-K *Starred Review* A small pig, a grandfatherly goat, and a bumptious turkey walk down to Blue Lake, where they spy a boat. Small Pig wants to go out for a row. Turkey doesnt. Old Goat doesnt either, but his indulgence of the little pig sets the tone for this utterly charming story. When Small Pig wants to fish for whales, Turkey curtly informs him there are no whales, but Old Goat says there might be a small one. (Catching a boot is almost as good.) When Small Pig wants to row the boat, Turkey objects, but Old Goat allows him to use one oar to row around in circles. And when Old Goat gets tired, he tells Small Pig just to keep his hand on the tiller. Then they all doze off, and suddenly Small Pig isnt steering. It looks like trouble, but that only comes when Old Goat stands up to tie the boat at journeys end, and Turkey is tossed overboard. Small Pig sleeps right through and is gently carried home. This book pleases at every level. The simplicity of its concept, the ease of its words, and the ink-and-watercolor arts subtle mix of wit and whimsy combine in a comfortable way. Capturing the importance of small moments, this also gives little ones reassurance that despite the turkeys life might throw at them, a gentle helping hand is usually there, too.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)