The Giant Seed

K-Gr 3—Geisert's famous pigs are back for another wordless adventure. During the night, a giant dandelion seed blows into town, and the pigs waste no time planting and caring for it. As it grows and buds, it becomes apparent that the mountain towering over the village is actually a volcano. When sparks begin to fly over the town, the pigs calmly gather their belongings and trek toward the now-established, enormous dandelion plant. In organized, cooperative fashion, they scale its stalks, and as the seeds take flight each bears a pig or two clutching its stem. The pigs fly away from the blighted island through the night and in the morning find safety on a lush new island. Though the story line is one of chaos and destruction, the pigs never seem worried or fearful; they have a plan, they care for one another, and everything works out fine. While some will enjoy the book just for the whimsy and adventure, kids experiencing turmoil in their home lives—whether through natural disasters or family dissolution—may be comforted by the characters' journey to safety. Geisert's engravings are as beautiful as ever; the spread showing the pig-laden dandelion seeds silhouetted by the moon is a particular standout. Some fans may miss the intricacies of the earlier titles, as this one is fairly straightforward; however, it is a solid choice for collections in need of wordless books or where the artist is popular.—Anna Haase Krueger, Antigo Public Library, WI