Little Pig Joins the Band

Little Pig Joins the Band

By David Hyde Costello

Charlesbridge

2011

It is hard to be the runt of the litter. You don’t measure up at the food trough, you’re always the last in line because your trotters don’t carry you fast enough…and in this picture book, you are too little to be in the band. Little Pig wanted to join his siblings when they got out Grandpa’s old marching band instruments, but he was too little for everything! He was outsized by the tuba, the trombone, the drums and every other instrument he tried. Once again, the runt of the litter was left out…until Little Pig realized this band needed a leader, and there is your happy ending!

The theme of Costello’s book is nothing new—the littlest (fill in the blank with your favorite breed of animal or human) is left out until they figure out a way to triumph. But the author makes the story special through precise text and loveable illustrations. There is a subtext included on most pages that consists of little side comments by the pig family. While these were not useful when performing this book during storytime, I imagine young solo readers would enjoy the piggy banter.

Trot down to your local bookstore and pick up a copy of this book. You will undoubtedly squeal with delight when reading Little Pig Joins the Band.

A Pet for Petunia

A Pet for Petunia

By Paul Schmid

Published by Harper

2011

There are loads of “kid wants a pet” books out there, but this story’s unique twist is that Petunia wants a pet skunk. She begs her parents. She pleads with her parents. She even promised to feed walk and clean the litter box if they let her have a skunk. “They stink!” says her parents, and because Petunia finds this hard to believe, she runs out into the woods, hoping to be eaten by a bear so her parents will finally give in and let her have a skunk (there’s some child logic for you!). Low and behold, she runs into a skunk in the woods and guess what? Her parents were right! Skunks smell worse than anything she has smelled in her “whole entire life.” I won’t reveal the surprise twist at the end, but I heartily recommend this book for storytellers, libraries and home collections. The preschoolers I read this to were glued to the story and wanted me to immediately read it again when I was finished.

Of all the “I want a pet” books I have read over the years, this one smells the sweetest!