A HUGE HOG IS A BIG PIG

Kids, animals, and plucky word play combine in this engaging offering from first-time authors, and husband-and-wife team, McCall and Keeler. As the jacket explains, the text is based on a rhyming word game called “Stinky Pinky” or “Silly Willy.” To play, participants figure out the rhyming word pair that goes with the two-word clue. For example, bordered in bright orange, the opening photograph shows a boy patting the titular farm animal. Above, bold white text gives the clue: “A huge hog is a . . . ” Youngsters turn the page to reveal the words “BIG PIG” above a full-page photo of three children coaxing the creature into its pen. Subsequent photos show that “Cattle food is . . . / Cow Chow” and “A cozy beetle is a . . . / SNUG BUG.” Throughout, colorful frames define question-and-answer pairs; some will stump, many will surprise, all will bring smiles. A terrific read-aloud, the interactive format encourages students to call out responses and, eventually, challenge one another with clues they invent on their own. (Picture book. 5-8)