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PIGGLE THE PIG

Name: PIGGLE THE PIG
Author: Dudolf
ISBN: 9780593691649

PARTY PROBLEMS

by Dudolf ; illustrated by Dudolf ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 5, 2025

Another irresistible outing with a lovably flawed but always well-meaning protagonist.

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A delightfully undisciplined swine hastily prepares goodies in anticipation of a visit.

Piggle’s friends are coming over, so he decides to bake a cake. “Being a responsible pig, Piggle knew he’d better prepare right away.” Here begins the same wonderful humor that tickled funny bones in Piggle’s debut. Cheekily contradicting the unseen narrator’s assertions, the art depicts the round pink protagonist lounging in a comfy chair as the clock ticks on. “Well, soon, anyway,” amends the narrator. Piggle doggedly tries to stay focused, but he can’t help tasting the dough and then the final product until the cake is gone. Panicked but determined, he whips up a pizza and a tray of muffins, with similar results. Worst of all, he never cleans up the increasingly messy kitchen. Desperately raiding the pantry for possible snacks, he drops the party tray just as the doorbell rings. In tears, Piggle greets his pals—only to discover they’ve anticipated the problem. Though Piggle approaches every endeavor with the best of intentions, he’s stymied each time despite himself—which will only endear him further to readers. Matched by hilariously understated prose, Dudolf’s minimalist art is utterly expressive, balancing wit with genuinely heartfelt emotion.

Another irresistible outing with a lovably flawed but always well-meaning protagonist. (Picture book. 3-7)

Pub Date: Aug. 5, 2025

ISBN: 9780593691649

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Flamingo Books

Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
PIGGLE THE PIG
by Dudolf ; illustrated by Dudolf

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CARPENTER'S HELPER

by Sybil Rosen ; illustrated by Camille Garoche ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 16, 2021

Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story.

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A home-renovation project is interrupted by a family of wrens, allowing a young girl an up-close glimpse of nature.

Renata and her father enjoy working on upgrading their bathroom, installing a clawfoot bathtub, and cutting a space for a new window. One warm night, after Papi leaves the window space open, two wrens begin making a nest in the bathroom. Rather than seeing it as an unfortunate delay of their project, Renata and Papi decide to let the avian carpenters continue their work. Renata witnesses the birth of four chicks as their rosy eggs split open “like coats that are suddenly too small.” Renata finds at a crucial moment that she can help the chicks learn to fly, even with the bittersweet knowledge that it will only hasten their exits from her life. Rosen uses lively language and well-chosen details to move the story of the baby birds forward. The text suggests the strong bond built by this Afro-Latinx father and daughter with their ongoing project without needing to point it out explicitly, a light touch in a picture book full of delicate, well-drawn moments and precise wording. Garoche’s drawings are impressively detailed, from the nest’s many small bits to the developing first feathers on the chicks and the wall smudges and exposed wiring of the renovation. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)

Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story. (Picture book. 3-7)

Pub Date: March 16, 2021

ISBN: 978-0-593-12320-1

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random

Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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LITTLE BLUE TRUCK AND RACER RED

From the Little Blue Truck series

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 25, 2025

A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.

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In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.

Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”

A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)