SMALL FLORENCE, PIGGY POP STAR

Alexander’s book is a pleasure to gaze upon. The artwork is sumptuous, like great dollops of ice cream, the colors bold in some instances, commingling with an eye for harmony in others, the line work fine and wiry. The story follows Florence, a young pig with big dreams of singing stardom but hog-tied by her shrinking-violet nature. She can barely manage a squeak when her mildly bullying older sisters, also singers, challenge her to show her stuff. When a TV singing contest comes to town, the older sisters try to grab the limelight but succumb to stage fright, while Florence belts out a winning tune from the audience. Despite the lovely French curves of music issuing from Florence’s snout, her sudden instinct to public warbling lacks any rationale. The story doesn’t turn on anything; without some imaginative impulse, the sisters’ balking and Florence’s newfound voice are airy contrivances. Still, the illustrations are of such quality as to nearly float the project by fashioning a narrative of their own. Florence caught in the spotlight is alone worth 1,000 carefully crafted words. (Picture book. 4-8)