The Little Pig, the Bicycle, and the Moon

July 15, 2018
When Rosie the pig sees a bicycle, she determines that she will ride it in this Canadian import translated from French.Rosie is a contented pig. She has a barnyard, food, and a "deliciously smelly pigpen." But when she sees a child (an "ugly animal that had no snout or curly tail") riding a red bicycle, suddenly she wants more: She wants to ride that bike. Each night, Rosie steals away and tries to ride the bike. Each night she fails but learns something new about momentum, balance, and speed, and each night more and more of the barnyard animals show up to watch or to help. Author Dubé builds the story in a logical, matter-of-fact tone ("Cycling certainly is an action-packed sport"), which humorously juxtaposes against illustrator Orbie's irreverent illustrations. After her first fall, Rosie decides "it would be safer to wear a helmet"--the illustration shows a saucepan. After a dunk in the lake, Rosie adds more "protective equipment"--a tire around her middle and a "snorkel" made from a piece of elbow pipe. Dialogue and thought bubbles add to the story's spontaneous feel, and Rosie's expressions are hilarious as she earnestly tries one thing after another, determined to get the hang of it.A clever, quirky story whose text and illustrations are a great foil to each other; sure to be fun for all readers--but especially those learning to ride a bike. (Picture book. 4-8)

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August 27, 2018
A pig learns the power of perseverance in this translation of Canadian author Dubé’s whimsical barnyard tale. When Rosie the pig sees a boy (“a small, very ugly animal that had no snout or curly tail”) riding a bicycle, she’s smitten with the machine and makes up her mind to give cycling a try. Her initial nighttime efforts are predictably mishap filled, resulting in a “Bonk!” “Boom!” and “Splash!” But Rosie learns from every practice run, and eventually, with the moon as companion and the unexpected help of a few generous creatures—and some unusual props—she begins pedaling on her own. Successful at last, she rides off into the moonlight, leaving everyone to muse about her final destination. Sketchlike, full-color illustrations by Orbie (Les Vacances) capture the drama of Rosie’s efforts as well as the physical humor of her failures. Set against a gray nighttime palette, pink Rosie, the red bike, and the bright yellow moon stand out, emphasizing the farmyard magic at play. Ages 4–8.