TALES OF OLIVER PIG

by Jean Van Leeuwen ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 28, 1979

I am happy now,"" says Oliver Pig to his mother on baking day. ""Because you are here. And [little sister] Amanda is here. And I am not cold and wet, I am warm. Baking cookies is warm""--a message Else Minarik, or Lobel himself, would put across with more art and less nudging. On ""A Bad Day,"" Oliver refuses to share his toys with Amanda, but does share his food with her when it turns out that only he can get her to eat. In other warm but minimally modulated episodes, Grandma Pig comes to visit and enjoys a pretend supper that Oliver has cooked up in his toy oven (""With cherry pie and raisin pie to eat and you and Amanda to hug, I am full right up to the top,"" says Grandma); Mother Pig sheds a tear of frustration over the hassle of getting Oliver and Amanda dressed up for the snow; and Oliver hides in his bed while Father plays along with his disappearing game. Lobel gives the fond family doings the soft glow Van Leeuwen calls for, makes the two little pigs in their snowsuits delightfully cumbersome and droll, and lifts the whole experience a notch above the level of the text.

Pub Date: Sept. 28, 1979

ISBN: 0140365494

Page Count: -

Publisher: Dial

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1979

Categories: CHILDREN'S