Pig Kahuna

PreS-Gr 2—Surf's up! Pig Fergus and his baby brother, Dink, spend their time beachcombing for treasures-and, in Fergus's case, avoiding the "lurking, murky ickiness" of the water. When they discover an unclaimed surfboard, the siblings give it a face and name it "Dave." But when Fergus goes off to get ice cream, Dink decides that Dave needs to be wild and free and tosses it back into the sea. In an effort to save the board, Fergus plunges headlong into the water, swims out to it, and climbs on—just as a huge wave launches them back toward the beach. In the satisfying conclusion, the triumphant pigs continue their treasure hunting as newly minted and obviously happy surfers. The big-eyed, big-eared porkers, one in a loud Hawaiian shirt and the other in his dinky diaper, carry the story along against the sand and sea backdrops. The full-color acrylic and colored pencil illustrations have a sketchy, active feel that bounces merrily along and keeps the focus squarely on the expressive porcine pair. Children will appreciate the imaginative play that the pigs engage in as well as cheer when Fergus overcomes his fear to become the Pig Kahuna.—Marge Loch-Wouters, La Crosse Public Library, WI