PIGAROONS

Only Geisert’s agile mind could construct a fanciful pig plot with pirates, ice sculptures, and flying ships. The River Patrollers live in a stone quarry on Porcine Ridge overlooking the river. Each year they cut one big block of crystal-clear ice, carve a sculpture for the Ice Festival, and usually win first prize. Across the river live the Pigaroons, descendents of Spanish pirates, who true to their heritage, steal stuff. This year, they steal the Patrollers block of ice, and sculpt the famous Spanish explorer, Hernando de Soto, intent on winning first place. The Patrollers devise a plan to thwart the Pigaroons using a round, polished disc of ice as lens and a flying machine (reminiscent of Shulevitz’s flying machine), they focus light rays on the sculpture, melting de Soto, and winning first prize for their cleverness. Geisert’s signature tinted etchings intricately detail the scenes, filling the pages with his clever touches. Like his previous pig tales, this is engaging, ingenious, and original—a “pigadilly.” (Picture book. 5-8)