GARTH PIG STEALS THE SHOW
by Mary Rayner & illustrated by Mary Rayner
A welcome return for little Garth and his big family; here, they've formed a band and are in concert with the help of a ringer, a lavender-gowned sousaphonist easily recognized (though not by the Pigs) as a wolf. Just as Mrs. Pig is warbling a solo, little William notices that Garth has abandoned his piccolo and disappeared. Laying down his own trumpet, quick-witted William takes over his surprised father's baton and leads the band up to Garth's piccolo solo—at which point he signals to the sousaphone, forcing the wolf to respond with a blast of air that propels Garth from the horn, where he's been trapped, right to center stage. Told with Rayner's usual brisk good humor and nicely illustrated with deftly drawn, lively, and cheerfully resourceful pigs: a funny story with just enough suspense, sure to star with groups and independent readers alike. (Picture book. 4-8)