A charming, frothy tale of a piglet’s antics in the tropics.
A porcine traveler visits another scenic locale for sunny thrills and a little bit of mischief in this seventh installment of a chapter book series.
Sir Pigglesworth and his family head to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Ever excitable, Sir eagerly plans to enjoy snorkeling and swimming and soak up everything that the island has to offer. Imagine his surprise and delight when he runs into his old friends JoAnn and Bill in San Juan, too. They are there for a visit; JoAnn lived in the city as a child. Together, JoAnn, Bill, and Sir snorkel (the piglet is convinced a shark is out to get him, but it’s only a rock) and surf, and they even read to the children at JoAnn’s old school. They also savor sites like La Coca Falls, Old San Juan, and the El Yunque rain forest, and eat a delicious meal of rice and beans, chicken, and flan. But Sir gets into more trouble than he should—chasing animals, convincing himself that there are real-life butterflies in his stomach, and nearly knocking over an entire display of dresses. By the time he’s ready to give the graduation speech at a university (the whole point of his trip to Puerto Rico), he’s enjoyed many escapades—even though he failed to finally catch a lurking iguana. Seven books into this series, authors Wagner and Dean and illustrator Darchicourt (Sir Pigglesworth’s Adventures in Bermuda, 2016, etc.) have concocted even more capers for the main character. The authors’ vivid descriptions and depth of knowledge concerning Puerto Rico enhance the tale—thanks to the piglet’s exploits, families will likely be booking vacations there soon. This volume is part children’s story, part sightseeing guide. Some of Sir’s pranks read as a bit too silly. But it’s all in fun, and readers should have a fine time. The images bring a great deal of color to the story, especially when depicting the rain forest and the island’s assorted creatures. One caveat, though, involves how Darchicourt draws the characters of JoAnn and Bill. Meant to resemble Wagner and her husband, the illustrations look like caricatures, and they don’t really blend with the cartoon aspect of the rest of the pictures. But ultimately, Sir’s latest installment is an entertaining one that fans of the series should want to read.
A charming, frothy tale of a piglet’s antics in the tropics.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Sir Pigglesworth Publishing
Review Posted Online: Oct. 18, 2016
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending.
Don’t let the Pigeon ruin his own special day!
Anyone who has ever encountered the title character in any of his books—whether his first, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (2003), or one of its many sequels—will understand that the bird’s innate self-love drives his every interaction. Little wonder, then, that he’s thrilled about his own “bird-day.” He has the hat. He has his “FANCY PLUMAGE.” And, best of all, he will get to blow out a candle “on my bird-day hot dog!” As he revels in the knowledge that this day is all for him, comeuppance is lurking. Someone has already blown out the bird-day candle—and eaten half the hot dog. It turns out that the Pigeon’s frenemy, the Duckling, has the same bird-day—as do a slew of newly hatched chicks. The Pigeon’s obligatory eight-panel freakout ensues. “What am I—invisible? I just want to be seen,” he whimpers, and when he receives some much-needed reassurance, he settles down and willingly shares his special day. While the switch from unapologetic narcissism to mature acceptance happens in the record-breaking span of two pages, the book is as enchanting as the Pigeon’s earlier outings. Even as it walks in the footsteps of its predecessors, there’s no denying the fun to be had.
Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 31, 2026
ISBN: 9781454999621
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Yes, the Pigeon has to go to school, and so do readers, and this book will surely ease the way.
All the typical worries and excuses kids have about school are filtered through Willems’ hysterical, bus-loving Pigeon.
Told mostly in speech balloons, the bird’s monologue will have kids (and their caregivers) in stitches at Pigeon’s excuses. From already knowing everything (except whatever question readers choose to provide in response to “Go ahead—ask me a question. / Any question!”) to fearing learning too much (“My head might pop off”), Pigeon’s imagination has run wild. Readers familiar with Pigeon will recognize the muted, matte backgrounds that show off the bird’s shenanigans so well. As in previous outings, Willems varies the size of the pigeon on the page to help communicate emotion, the bird teeny small on the double-page spread that illustrates the confession that “I’m… / scared.” And Pigeon’s eight-box rant about all the perils of school (“The unknown stresses me out, dude”) is marvelously followed by the realization (complete with lightbulb thought bubble) that school is the place for students to practice, with experts, all those skills they don’t yet have. But it is the ending that is so Willems, so Pigeon, and so perfect. Pigeon’s last question is “Well, HOW am I supposed to get there, anyway!?!” Readers will readily guess both the answer and Pigeon’s reaction.
Yes, the Pigeon has to go to school, and so do readers, and this book will surely ease the way. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: July 2, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-368-04645-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Hyperion
Review Posted Online: May 7, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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