Oink

Mama Pig and her litter of eight rambunctious piglets settle down for a nap, but the little ones are too restless, and while their mother sleeps they wander off on an adventure

PreSchool-K-- The sun is up and mother pig oinks her eight piglets awake. They feed, follow her to the big puddle for a swim, and then head back to their haystack shelter for a nap. When mother falls asleep, her little ones decide to explore on their own. She awakens to an empty nest, locates her noisy offspring, and, with an angry, earthshaking "OINK," takes control once again. The intricate detail in Geisert's etchings is impressive; illustrations are black on gray, presented either as a full page or divided into two sequential scenes. The pigs, represented a bit more realistically here than in Pigs from A to Z (Houghton, 1986), are tinted peachy pink. Their oinks compose the only text. Children who can appreciate the quiet simplicity of the book will enjoy the piglets' capriciousness and their risky escapade, but Oink lacks the excitement of Geisert's previous stories. --Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library,
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Geisert ( Pigs from A-Z ) is back with another exceptional pig tale: one in which his pigs communicate, most eloquently, through that word-of-many-meanings, "Oink." The story begins with a stretch, a yawn and an "Oink!" for Mother Pig and her little ones--nine oinks in all before a brisk walk and playful mud bath. While Mother Pig naps, the piglets roam in search of forbidden fruits (literally); soon their gentle oinks are transformed into great whoops of excitement. In turn, of course, such unruly squeals waken Mother Pig and the consequences must be faced. Children of all ages will love this porcine family, so appealingly etched in pale pink and black and white. The droll illustrations exude an understated hilarity--and who would have thought that a near-wordless picture book could be quite so noisy, or so much fun. All ages.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.