PIGS LOVE POTATOES

Counting pigs and potatoes leads young readers to a feast. One pig would like potatoes. When his little brother joins in, Mamma enlists their help in peeling. As more and more pigs arrive, Mamma continues to add to the pot, until it holds ten potatoes. At the end of the meal, not a speck is left: “The only thing that Mamma tells / Her piggies they must do / Is kiss her cheek and clear their plates / When piggies are all through.” the author’s debut is a rather ho-hum counting book. While her rhymes are spot-on, the text is missing that special something—the humor of Candace Fleming’s Who Invited You (2001), the sweetness of Susan L. Roth’s My Love for You (1997), or the high-interest appeal of counting farm animals or automobiles. Illustrator Christopher’s acrylic illustrations are full of delightful details, such as the wig the children make for their poor tired father. Each pig is patently unique, and their personalities shine through the dinner preparation chaos. However, with the exception of pig or potato fans, this lacks the pizzazz that would make it a necessary purchase. (Picture book. 2-6)