PEPPA PIG AND THE BUSY DAY AT SCHOOL

PreS-K—This simple, serviceable story is based on a TV series. Peppa Pig is excited about Special Talent Day at school. In the morning, the animal classmates count, recite the alphabet (in a spread with letters and labeled items, so young readers can practice), play store, paint, have lunch and recess, and finally share special talents. But other classmates all display Peppa's possibly unique abilities. When she gets upset, her teacher asks what she really likes to do, and the little pig leads everyone outside to jump in mud puddles; she declares the school day "very good." The text and story are clear and appealing, but unexceptional. The message-driven text is overly long for toddlers and simplistic for older preschoolers. The digitally rendered, full-color cartoon art depicts childlike, anthropomorphized animals who walk on two feet and wear clothes. They have circle eyes, round bodies, and stick arms and legs. Buy where the show is popular.—Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT