PORKELIA

Porkelia used to enjoy a good wallow in the mud, but her unfulfilled dreams of showbiz are bringing her down. The wise pig declares Porkelia a great dancer. “ ‘Not just any old hoofer, / my sweet pink coquette, / you’re destined to be / the first piggy Rockette!’ ” Porkelia buys a sparkly costume and red, high-heeled tap shoes; with the right amount of practice of snout twirls and high kicks, she wins over her skeptical sty-mates. They send her off to New York City to pursue her dream…but there are dues yet to pay: years of selling blenders and late-night dancing gigs. When Porkelia finally hits the big time, she doesn’t forget the little pigs back in the barnyard. In her debut, Tucker’s three-color, heavy-line cartoon illustrations bring to mind James Marshall’s Four Little Troubles series. Though her tale of a stage-struck swine runs out of steam for a bit in the middle, Porkelia is a plucky piggie with her eyes on the prize who’ll inspire people—not to mention pigs—with stars in their eyes. (Picture book. 5-8)