Pig Has a Plan

August 13, 2012
In this succinctly silly addition to the I Like to Read series, readers meet Pig, whose rotundity and heavy-lidded angst may prompt speculation that he and Garfield were separated at birth. Contrary to the title, Pig actually has two plans. The first—“Pig wants to nap”—is quickly thwarted by his fellow barnyard inhabitants, who are engaged in activities that make sleep impossible (“Cow wants to gab” on her cell phone, “Hen wants to saw,” and Cat insists on popping every balloon inflated by two frustrated mice). Pig’s second and more successful plan is to sleep submerged in mud, using a straw as a snorkel (“Now Pig can nap”). But the other animals know something special about Pig, and they have yet another plan in store for him. Long’s (Soup for One) broad, distinctly cartoony sensibility is in full force. The eye-popping palette, Pig’s slow burn, the oblivious supporting cast, and prose with lots of short-but-sweet word sounds (“Pup wants to bop”; “Hog wants to hum”) should make this popular with avid and reluctant readers alike. Ages 4–8.

June 15, 2012
A noisy barnyard is no place for a nap! Poor pig, all he wants to do is take a short snooze. However, there seems to be something going on around him. Each of his farm friends is making noise of one kind or another. "Hen wants to saw." "Dog wants to tap." "Hog wants to hum." Pig looks closer and closer to fainting from exhaustion until he spies some drinking straws and has an idea. He sinks himself in his mud puddle and breathes through a straw snorkel. He's finally able to catch some Z's...but all those barnyard noises had a purpose: prep for a piggy birthday celebration. So much for napping! Long's entry in the I Like to Read series tells its simple tale in 47 words, nearly all of which are of the single-syllable, easy-to-sound-out variety. Bright pastel-and-primary full-bleed illustrations featuring big-eyed farm folk will keep eyes on the page during storytime or guided independent reading. The visual humor and the easy-reading text make this a winner for readers just starting out. Proving even pooped piggies are ready to party, this will make children want to join in. (Early reader. 4-7)

COPYRIGHT(2012) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2012

PreS-K-Pig has a plan to take a nap, but his farm friends all have something else in mind. As the porker lounges in the mud, simple, four-word sentences describe the noisy activities going on around him. "Hen wants to saw"; "Cow wants to gab"; "Rat wants to mix." The bright, cartoonlike illustrations fill in the details as readers see Hen making a table, Cow talking on a cell phone, and Rat baking a cake. One by one the animals are introduced until the farmyard is buzzing with party preparations, and Pig looks more and more tired. He finally finds a creative way to hide in the mud and sleep when his friends unveil a huge Happy Birthday banner. Children will easily guess what the animals are up to in this fun picture book/easy reader. A solid addition to the series.-Kristine M. Casper, Huntington Public Library, NY

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2013
Pig wants to nap, but "Hen wants to saw. / Cow wants to gab," and so on. They're noisily planning a party, and it's party supplies that save the day--straws become a snorkel, and Pig falls asleep deep under the mud. But not for long--the birthday celebration is for him! Cartoony animals add humor to the short, declarative sentences featuring familiar words.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)