Piggies in the Kitchen

PreS-K—Five little porkers and their father wave Mama off one bright, sunny day as she leaves the house. Daddy goes to cut the grass while his children enthusiastically descend upon the kitchen. Rhyming couplets filled with onomatopoeia tell the tale of the frenetic piglets making a mess plus a pleasant surprise for their mother. Pen-and-ink with watercolor illustrations in pastel hues humorously reveal the raucous goings-on. The piggies cheerfully juggle eggs, spill chocolate chips, and let frosting bubble over on the stove as lighthearted chaos ensues. Though most of the batter ends up on the floor and on one another, the five are able to create cookies, a pie, and a cake in celebration of their mother, who returns home to find a clean house, guests, and goodies. Every time the little ones hear a sound outside, a repeated refrain accompanies an illustration depicting the pigs trying to hide the evidence in a frenzy of scurrying about the kitchen. This book would work well as a Mother's Day tale or as a general birthday story. Children will enjoy perusing the pictures to watch the activities of each individual pig.—Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI