A GARDEN FOR PIG

Pig is tired of his nothing-but-apples diet from Apple Farm. Apples roasted, baked, sauced and pied are all very well, but he would love to eat something else for a change. With all the defiance a small pig can muster, he busts into the vegetable garden and "accidentally" swallows some squash. Using a light touch, Thurman allows her little pig to demonstrate organic gardening in his pen by stretching in the mud and turning the dirt over. “Rumble” goes his tummy, and “Ploop!”—out pop the squash seeds onto the newly furrowed ground. The rest of the book finishes in a hurry, with a squash plant appearing after some rain. While the unanswered question of where all the apple seeds Pig had eaten previously went lingers, the charming artwork, using cut paper and stamping, succeeds. Ward makes effective use of found materials, allowing apple-based recipes and gardening instructions to peek through lightly applied paints. Mock-dictionary definitions add to the fun: "n. apple / boring, same / over it!" These and other details will help carry readers over the holes in the story. (endnotes on organic gardening) (Picture book. 5-8)