Pig

Publishers Weekly

The team behind Cow and Ice Cream porks out with PIG by Jules Older, illus. by Lyn Severance. Cartoonish panel and full-page illustrations of assorted swine from across the globe and a multitude of facts snappily delivered provide enough fun to keep readers in hog heaven. Just remember, "If you want to impress a farmer, don't say `When will your sow have babies?' Say, `When will your sow farrow?' " Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature

Interesting facts about pigs are presented in a colorful and humorous way. There are over 500 breeds of domestic pigs. They live all over the world, thriving in both warm and cold climates. Big Bill, the largest pig ever, weighed 2,552 pounds. Pygmy pigs weigh about 14 pounds. Some people like to keep pigs as pets. The Vietnamese potbelly is the most popular because it is relatively small (50 to 120 pounds), it likes to play, and it doesn't poop in the house. Pigs will eat almost anything, but they stop eating when they are full. They like to play in the mud to avoid sunburn on their tender skins. Large cartoon-like illustrations provide color and action as they aid in understanding. In addition to all of the essential information about pigs, readers are treated to many little known facts about these fascinating animals. Map inserts show where various pigs live throughout the world. Simple directions for drawing pigs appear in the back of the book. A necessary book for those who are studying pigs; an enjoyable one for those who are not. 2004, Charlesbridge, and Ages 5 to 8.
—Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 4-A lighthearted picture book from the creators of Cow (Charlesbridge, 1997). Information ranges from number of pigs in the world and different breeds to fun trivia. Some of the facts are presented over several pages; others, such as why pigs like to wallow in the mud, are offered on one page. Older's text is humorous and material is often presented in the form of a question. Severance, who designed the attractive Ben & Jerry's ice-cream containers, lends her distinctive style to this brief nonfiction book. Bright, cheery illustrations depict pigs on farms in Indiana, in bamboo forests in China, and even, in the case of the Vietnamese Potbelly, on a boy's lap in a family home. Quirky drawings show a pig on a motorcycle (or a pig on a Hog) and one in Denmark reading stories by Hans Christian Andersen. The artist includes illustrated maps of the regions of the world where these animals live. Report writers will require additional resources, but this book, written in a breezy, easy style, is ideal for nonfiction browsers.-Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WI Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

This zippier alternative to Gail Gibbons's Pigs (1999) surrounds similarly simple, brightly colored cartoon portraits of side-posing porkers with labels, maps, snippets of fact ("Denmark has more pigs than people!"), and exclamation points. Older never quite gets around to explaining the common fate of all those farm pigs, but he does present a general view of their habits and predilections (i.e., food, mud, having their backs scratched), points out physical differences between common breeds, provides a bit of ig-pay atin-lay actice-pray, and closes with both a tally of renowned pigs and a helpful Web site. Another decidedly un-boaring look at livestock from the creators of Cow (1998). (Picture book/nonfiction. 6-8)