KURTZ, Chris. The Adventures of South Pole Pig: A Novel of Snow and Courage. illus. by Jennifer Black Reinhardt. 288p. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-63455-5.
K-Gr 4–Her name is Flora, and she’s a pig. She’s curious and longs to explore beyond the perimeters of the pigpen. She dreams of going to Antarctica with the sled dogs on the farm and becoming a sled pig. When she is put in a crate onboard a ship, she sees the expedition as an opportunity while the crew views her as potential pork chops. Then they are shipwrecked and readers will root for spunky Flora as she discovers just how brave and needed she can be. Simple black-line drawings add a welcoming charm. Told in the voice of a seasoned storyteller, this novel has chapters that will work perfectly for sharing aloud with younger children or as a read-alone for more competent readers. Flora will encourage every listener to dream of being their best self. Move over Wilbur and Babe, there’s a new pig in town.–Helen Foster James, University of California at San Diego
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