Following in the footsteps of "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie"
Written: May 31 '02 (Updated Nov 08 '06)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: a sticky-sweet story which should keep your child's attention while inspiring giggles
Cons: ummmmm WHERE'S MOM
The Bottom Line: If you're looking for some light reading for your child this summer pick up this title. Why not serve it up with a plate of pancakes!
|
|
|
| jiastar's Full Review: Laura Joffe Numeroff - If You Give a Pig a Pancake... |
A traveling little pig comes across a neat yellow house and peaking in the window finds a young girl sitting down to breakfast. Now, I'm sure the pig had a hungry gleam in her eye which is what led the girl to share her meal of fresh steaming pancakes. If only she had known that "if you give a pig a pancake" all kinds of mess and mischief would ensue.
Now this is not because the pig is bad at heart it is simply that she has the attention span that you might find in any young-one where each activity inspires them to suddenly move on to something else leaving the previous one, and a mess, in their wake.
In this tale the pig has breakfast, which leaves her all sticky leading to a bubble bath complete with a rubber duck. However the duck reminds her of her farm home, making her sad and prompting her to invite you to visit.
Looking for a suitcase, the little pig will find your tap shoes which will lead to a full round of dressup, piano playing, and photo taking. And, of course, she should send a photo to each of her friends. On the way to the mailbox she will spot the perfect tree and build a treehouse. In the midst of wallpapering the glue will make her feel sticky and bring to mind, more pancakes.
Of course, in the process, they leave a mess in their wake. Unwashed plates, a bubble filled tub, clothes and toys scattered around the bedroom, a couch perched precariously on 2 blue chairs, a wheelbarrow filled with mail, and MORE.
Overall though this is an innocent and silly story. It is meant, not to teach any lesson or to evoke any moral code, but to simply entertain. And it does the job well.
_____________________
The text
Laura Numeroff (http://www.lauranumeroff.com) the author of this title, published in March 1998, has taken 28 pages, each with 1-4 lines of text and relays a charming story which will inspire smiles and laughter in most children.
While there is no use of rhyme or obvious rhythm to the text the use of repetition makes this a great book for the young reader in your life. Words and phrases are used more than once, making the lines both familiar and comfortable. The language is simple without being condescending. And the story is engaging enough to keep the attention of both my 2.5 year old and my 7.5 year old.
We find ourselves amused by the antics of this adorable pink pig, touched by the care of her new friend, and wondering aloud "what will her mother say!".
If you enjoy this book, you will also like these related titles:
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, January 1985
If You Give a Moose a Muffin, August 1991
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies, September 2000
_____________________
The illustrations
Felicia Bond has done some great work here.
From the home decor seen in wallpaper and wainscotting to the leaf acting as a mail flag on the treehouse mailbox we see an extraordinary amount of small detail. It is this detail that encourages children, mine at least, to focus on the pictures as the story is being told.
While simply drawn the face of our new piggy friend show a wide range of emotion:
-- a soft smile as the pig hold her plated pancake
-- the look of rapture as she licks away the last of the syrup
-- the sadness as she longs for her home
-- wide-eyed joy as she spots the TREE
-- and bubbling-up happiness as she sits, again, ready to eat
The girl's face is more simply drawn and is often not directly facing the reader. This allows the kids to decide what she is feeling and thinking. It gives them the freedom to put themselves in the scene.
_____________________
My nitpicking negative
I wish there had been either some evidence of consequence for the chaos left about the house and yard. Perhaps mother watching as pig and girl sweep and mop.
I wish we saw mom at all. The human character is a girl of perhaps 7 or 8 and while we don't see her cooking the meal there is no evidence that anyone other than she is at home. She seems to be totally unsupervised!
But then again sometimes you just have to let a cigar be a cigar ... oh yes a story be a story.
_____________________
Final Thoughts
Overall this is a delightful book. My older daughter still finds it an enjoyable read and I have to say that even I still find amusement in this tale.
It is perfect as a read-aloud book for those as young as in preschool or as a read-alone book for those in kindergarten or first-grade.
The illustrations in the book begin on the title pages, showing a pig with a bundle tied to a stick slung over her shoulder and then the same pig climbing up to peer into a window. The beginning part of my summary is based on these charming pictures. The story itself begins with the pig being offered a pancake.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
jiastar
|
 - Top 500 |
|
Location: Monmouth County, NJ
Reviews written: 368
Trusted by: 126 members
About Me:
A wife ... a mom ... and a Witch
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.