Book Description

When the Centerboro High School football coach mistakes Freddy for a player and sends him out on the field, not even the school board can find anything in the rule book about keeping pigs from playing football-as long as they go to school.While Freddy's going to class, trouble's brewing on the Bean farm.Mrs. Bean's long-lost brother, Aaron Doty, has returned home to claim his inheritance-an inheritance that will bankrupt the farm.Freddy will need all the help he can get from his partners in detecting, Jinx the cat and Mrs. Wiggins the cow, if he's going to find out what Doty's really up to, pass Arithmetic, and still make it to the big game.

"Welcome back, Freddy, you paragon of porkers!" (The Washington Post Book World) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Mrs. Bean's Brother's Keeper
Walter Brooks begins this sixteenth tale of our indomitable porcine poet with a great stir on the Bean Farm. Mrs. Bean's long lost brother has been discovered, and is coming to the farm for a reunion. When Aaron Doty makes his appearance, it is with mixed reviews. He is generally nice enough, although he has a marked affection for telling tall tales, but he has a suspicious mean streak. In the final analysis, the animals come to suspect that he is a fraud, taking advantage of the fact that Mrs. Bean's brother left when she was quite young. When they find out that Doty is conspiring with sneaky Mr. Garble from Centerboro, they are convinced.

But what should they do? The Beans owe Doty half of Mrs. Bean's inheritance. $5,000 dollars that long ago was put into the farm. They will have to borrow the money from the bank, and that means the Bean's will be near destitute. Even when the animals trap Doty in one lie after another, Mrs. Bean is adamant. No matter how rotten the man is, as long as he is her brother he is entitled to the money. Freddy will have to go to unheard of extremes to make this problem come out right.

One the lighter side, Freddy manages to be drafted into the Centerboro High School football team. It seems that pigs make superb tackles, and the Centerboro team is in sad shape. To make matters worse, their archrivals from Tushville have several players on their roster who are old enough to be teachers. Whenever Freddy can make time, he is either in classes of at football practice. Hopefully he will be able to help the Centerboro team improve their hapless record.

As usual, Brooks and illustrator Kurt Wiese manage to recreate one of the strangest fantasy worlds ever put into children's books. Animals talk, often making more sense than do their human counterparts. Freddy is part poet, part banker, part newspaperman, and now, part left tackle. Spiders go for trips to California, and the Centerboro jail is better than most four star resorts. Through it all come positive lessons about friendship and support, honesty (well, sometimes), and an abiding belief that a determined effort will turn things around. Hard as it may be to believe, you can do a lot worse than learning your values from a pig!

Freddy the Pig: Not Just for Kids
As usual, Freddy gets into trouble and into the adventure by trying to help his friends. In this case, Mrs. Bean's long-lost brother turns up and wants his share of the inheritance, something that will bankrupt Mr. Bean and possibly ruin the farm. At the same time, he is needed to help the Centerboro high school football team beat its rival, Tushville, who has ringers playing on their team. The action is fast and furious, and a delight to read. Brooks and his Freddy books are a godsend to parents who read to their children. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

My Boys' Favorite
Wonderful book contrasting the behaviors of two "boys". The parents even have rules which are actually enforced! Imagine that, a book that in today's world shows parents with a backbone and who love their kids enough to say "no"!! All this with Richard Scarry's wonderful illustrations. We bought extra copies to give to friends with young ones. Our boys love it as we read it to them. A wonderful way to reinforce the long-forgotten idea of "responsibility" in our children.

A very negative book
I was considering buying this book because my son loves Richard Scarry and I thought it might be a cute way to reinforce manners. Fortunately, I found a copy of the book at his play group and was able to read it first. Pig Wont is shown bare-bottomed getting a spanking from his father for not listening, is called a "Bad Pig!" for not following directions, and is treated in a very unsympathetic way. This kind of stern, un-understanding way of disciplining a child is unappealing to me and (I believe) unhelpful for the child. The book came across as very negative to me; instead of focusing on why a child would WANT to behave, it focuses on the bad things that will happen to him if he doesn't. That's not the message I want to send to my child.

Delightful and creative to be read over and over and over...
This is one of the most creative ways to address the stubborness in children and all of us. The adorable Pig Will and Pig Won't relates how having everything OUR way is not always the BEST way! Perfect object lesson for little minds! And entertaining for parents who need an innovative way to communicate the importance of obedience to youngsters!! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

Louella Mae, made grandma a hit in twenty two states.
I am a grandmother of sixteen grandchildren,eight boys and eight girls ranging in age from newborn to ten years. I just completed a two month journey through twenty two states reading Louella May She Run Away to my grandchildren, their parents and to their young friends. From the East Coast, through the South, the Mid-West and across North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and home to California, this story was a huge success. I watched young and old alike fall into the rythum of this tale and cry out the rhyming words as the pages turned, hoping they had said the right word. They found the illustrations to be eye catching and in harmony with the search for Louella May. The story brought laughter and also a happy surprise at the ending. The story has it's own spacial place in our family and will join other favorites, such as Dr.Seuss books, The Bernstien Bears, Beatrix Potter's books or Charlotes Web and the Wizard of Oz.

Storytime fun!
I have read this book aloud numerous times at toddler and preschool storytimes and it has been a hit each time. The text lends itself well to a loud southern accent and expansive gestures plus there is a delightful "surprise" ending for the kids. It doesn't disappoint!

Such a clever book with a surprise ending
Well, another discovered hit for my 5 year old daughter and me. She enjoyed finishing the clever rhyming as the characters looked for Louella Mae and much to our glee, the ending was not what we expected...Yahoo!

Excellent surprize ending.
Louella Mae is a lyrical adventure for young and old alike. A fun read ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A suprisingly pleasing book
When my sister first obtained this book from the library to read, I thought it might be a bit below her eight year old level. But it really suprised me, the funny ryhmes and charming pictures are quite well done. We both loved the recipies at the end of the book, the one that tells you how to make real cupcakes, and how warthogs make cupcakes. If you love to laugh, and know something about cooking, I recommend this book it is silly from start to finish.

A great book for any child.
My son (age 2) loves this book. He asks me over and over to read it to him. He is learning his numbers along with the story. The aritst has done a fantastic job making warthogs look adorable. Great Book! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Five Little Piggies Review
The five Little Piggies is a cute book on the true story about the ryme:
"This little piggy went to the market.
This little stayed home.
This little piggy had roast beef.
This little piggy had none.
And this little Piggy cried, "Wee wee wee," all the way home!"

This fun detailed book is wonderful for all ages of children. It is very cute and will give you a good laugh at the end. I promise that you will enjoy every little part of it, because I did, and I know you will too. This is a very exciting book that children of all ages should read. I loved it.

KinderKids Love It!


This is a roll-on-the-floor-and-giggle book that my kindergarten class adores.I save it to read at special times -- like the end of the day or right before recess -- because the kids literally roll around laughing at these short-and-silly stories based on the familiar "This Little Piggy Went to Market" rhyme.Clever, cartoonish illustrations add to the fun-and-games flavor of this book.Highly recommended.

only for pre-schoolers
The contents are terribly arranged.The entire five stories are not well connected.The illustrations are just sloppy like the little piggies.We do not need this book to teach children about silly rhyming.AMoney-Wasting-Choice book.

Hilarious background stories of "five little piggies"
This book contains five short stories of "five little piggies"(this little piggy went to market, etc.).The illustrations are wonderfuland the short stories hilarious.It's an excellent book for your child whois just learning to read.It is funny enough that parents and/orgrandparents will enjoy reading it with their favorite little ones. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Piglet in a Playpen by Ben M. Baglio
Set in places all over Greystone Farm. Piglet in a playpen is about a piglet who is the runt of a whole litter and there is not place for him to stay. Because the mother tries to smash it because ther little piglet is to small and if they don't move it the piglet will die.

The main characters, Mandy and James are two kids who love animals. Mandy's mother and father are both Veternarians who work at Animal Ark. Mandy and James go into the Animal Ark to get James Cat to get his treatment and Mrs. Hope tells the kids about a problem that she just heard about with an animal concern. The kids were very worried. Mrs. Hope tells the kids to bring the owner something.

As soon as they heard of the probelem they were off. When they got to Brandon's farmhouse which was the owner the kids looked for the runt piglet called Ruby. When they find Ruby they saw the little piglet farther back then the rest. Then she found the owner and gave him the food for Ruby. He was very suprised that she was even there.

In conclusion the piglet went to the Animal Ark. He had got his treatment and he kept the pellets as told and the little piglet lived happily with his mother and the rest of his siblings. Mandy and James did all they could to keep the piglet alive and that is what they did. So they were happy and so was Brandon Gill he was happy that the little piglet survived tooo even thought he did not like pets that must but he shore loved his little piglets and the mother pig.

Piglet in a Playpen
Piglet in a Playpen

Set in places all over Greystone Farm. Piglet in a playpen is about a piglet that is the runt of a whole litter and there is not place for him to stay. Because the mother tries to smash it because their little piglet is to small and if they don't move it the piglet will die.
The main characters, Mandy and James are two kids who love animals. Mandy's mother and father are both Veterinarians who work at Animal Ark. Mandy and James go into the Animal Ark to get James Cat to get his treatment and Mrs. Hope tells the kids about a problem that she just heard about with an animal concern. The kids were very worried. Mrs. Hope tells the kids to bring the owner something.
As soon as they heard of the problem they were off. When they got to Brandon's farmhouse, which was the owner, the kids looked for the runt piglet called Ruby. When they find Ruby they saw the little piglet farther back then the rest. Then she found the owner and gave him the food for Ruby. HE was very surprised that she was even there.
In conclusion the piglet went to the Animal Ark. He had got his treatment and he kept the pellets as told and the little piglet lived happily with his mother and the rest of his siblings. Mandy and James did all they could to keep the piglet alive and that is what they did. So they were happy and so was Brandon Gill he was happy that the little piglet survived too even thought he did not like pets that must but he shore loved his little piglets and the mother pig.

Piglet in a Playpen
Ruby the piglet is the runt of the litter, and there is no room for her at Greystones Farm. But Mandy and James love Ruby, and they can't accept that she has to go. Mandy and James think that they can turn Ruby into a prize-winning pig. Will Mandy and James turn Ruby into a prize-winning pig, and get her to be able to stay at Greystones Farm.

Great Book
A very good book one of the best in the animal ark series. ... Read more

Amazon.com

What's big?
A pig is big.
A pig is fat.
A pig is bigger than my hat.
What's bigger than a pig?

The universe is wide in girth
It is the biggest thing of all.
Compared
to it.
all things
seem
small.

Book Description

Four piggy-style fairy tales in mini-books bound right onto the pages!

It's bedtime, and Mother Pig is trying to get her little ones to go to sleep. What better way than to read them a bedtime story? The trouble is, they like the first one so much that they ask for more and more, begging her for "just one more story!" The stories Mother Pig reads to her children are hilarious piggy-style retellings of favorite fairy tales in real mini-books bound right onto the pages throughout the book. These porcine reimaginings are sure to make little ones laugh out loud. They include: "The Pig Prince," "The Ugly Pigling" "Piggerella," and "The Prince and the Porker." The perfect bedtime read-aloud, Just One More Story offers five delightfully funny tales in one book--enough for even the most wide-awake little pig...or child! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Just One More Story
Just One More Story

By Dugald Steer
A little pig wants to read about the olden days and so the little pig reads
The pig prince, The ugly pigling, piggerella, and last of all, The prince and the porker.
Then he settes down for a nap. I like this book because I like pigs and they are cute.

Teacher approved-wonderful children's book!
As a fourth grade teacher, I found this book perfect when teaching writing, story telling, and point of view. It is endearing and is a favorite in my school's library. Children will love reading this at home, especially if they are familiar with classic fairy tales....pig style! ... Read more

Book Description

After sailing away on the high sea and in the sky, this young pig knows that home is the best place to be. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Delightful flight of fantasy
While sailing in a boat on a pond, little pig goes on imaginary journeys that involve sailing the high seas, meeting pirates, and journeying to the clouds. The delightful rhymes and the humorous yet whimsical pictures are sure to delight young children. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A snorting good time
As with all of the Devlin books, "A Kiss for a Warthog" is an absolute treasure for bedtime reading. The story language invites shifts in voice and sound that captivate. The book is a staple of bedtime reading at home.

This story is great for all ages
A Kiss For A Warthog is a wonderful book. As a child, I would make my mother read it to me over and over again. As an adult, I get the same childish delight in reading this book about a warthog awaiting a kiss from reluctant humans. This is a very well written book with great illustrations. I can't help but laugh everytime I see one particular picture in the book when Allegra the warthog is puckered up to receive a kiss- with all her whiskers and warts standing out! I will someday read this story to my children and grandchildren. This story is great for all ages and I thoroughly recommend it! ... Read more

Book Description

The Pigs are ready to do-si-do at the Lefooters Club, when they find out their dancing teacher is sick and can't attend. But the show must go on, so Mr. Pig offers to take his place calling the steps to the dance. There's just one problem -- Mr. Pig has never called a square dance before! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Julius
This is a 3star book. I think one of your children would give it less or more.

Julius, piggy of the world
Before Dav Pilkey's "Captain Underpants" won the hearts and minds of children everywhere and before Angela Johnson won the 2003 Printz honor for her remarkable book, "First Part Last", the two combined their unique talents for the unusual tale, "Julius".The story is a slapdash combination served up in a range of colorful motifs.In this tale, a young African-American girl's grandfather sends her a gigantic pig named Julius from Alaska.Julius is rambunctious to say the least.Though her parents aren't initially fond of the messy (and oh so slightly obnoxious) pig, they keep him because their daughter Maya loves him so.Pilkey has combined a variety of different drawing styles to keep the illustrations in this tale interesting.Fabric is used on almost every page as borders, wallpaper, clothing, suitcases, etc.There's even a lovely patched together opening spread of Maya and Julius as quilted figures tromping through the flowers.What Johnson has written in this charming tale is matched perfectly by Pilkey's wry flourishes that crop up here and there.The angry glares Maya's parents shoot the slightly cowed grandfather when they realize they now own a pig is priceless.Maya herself is so full of life and verve that you want to take lessons from her.In some pictures she sports a colorful sombrero.In others, she's in pearls and white gloves (while Julius doffs 3-D glasses).No child reading this wouldn't want a gigantic pig of their own.No adult would want to keep it from them.

Fun and imaginative!
My kids and I loved this book from the first time we read it. My kids are teenagers now, but I still recommend this book to new parents. I fell in love with Julius and he still brings a smile to my face, when I think of him trying on clothes, and listening to Jazz music! Since there are so few whimsical stories about and for African American children, this book is a real treasure. Thank You Ms. Johnson.

Julius is jazzy
Julius is a very unconventional pig who loves jazz music, dressing up, and eating peanut butter out of the jar. Maya teaches Julius manners, which he reluctantly learns, then later uses because he loves Maya. It's a fun,non-whimsical and non-preachy story of friendship. Kids 'get' the moral(bringing out the best in your friend by loving them and sharing your owninterests with them) without being hit over the head with it. The excellentfacial expressions (esp on the parents' faces) really tell the story.

Theillustrations are very engaging -- brightly patterned bits of cloth, somecreative distortion of perspective, etc. The African-American family lookslike it was modeled on real, living individuals -- a refreshing change fromthe generic white-person-colored-black look.

This is a great picturebook for those of you who are tired of the pastel world of books for theunder-7 set.

We think the author never finished the book very well.
Nothing was very funny or catchy.None of the lines really stated anything profound.The story wasn't very interesting. ... Read more

Book Description

Unabridged, featuring the author and a full cast of actors.Hobart yearns to become a world famous tap dancer. Of course, this isn't easy when you are born a pig. But Hobart is one of the world's great optimists, and he is convinced that if he can just keep himself and his siblings Violet (an acrobat), Byron (a poet), and Wilfred (a singer) from being turned into pork chops that they can make their dreams come true. Anita Briggs herself narrates, and the high-spirited musical finale will delight listeners of all ages. Running time 30 minutes. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A winning story with some similarities to "Babe"
At first glance, Hobart would appear to be just another pig of Farmer Mills.Indeed, Hobart would appear to be no different than his brothers, Byron and Wilfred, or his sister, Violet.But Hobart is like no other pig.He has dreams and aspirations that regular pigs could not begin to imagine.

Other animals on the farm try to vex Hobart's spirit by telling him he will be made into bacon and eaten.But this does not deter Hobart's big dream of becoming a tap dancer.Hobart soon learns, however, that Farmer Mills plans on selling him to the local butcher.Fearing for their lives, Hobart and his siblings come up with a plan to both escape the local butcher and convince Farmer Mills that the pigs have talent and should be allowed to live.

A wonderful flight into fantasy, "Hobart" will remind many readers of Dick King-Smith's "Babe, The Gallant Pig."However, Hobart's winning attitude and Briggs' writing style keeps the story fresh and limits comparisons with the other swine.Mary Rayner's illustrations help keep the story moving and add an extra dimension to the story.Though targeted for four to eight year olds, "Hobart" is recommended for children of all ages. ... Read more

Book Description

Albert is the new boy in school and it seems like he knows everything. He raises his hand every time the teacher asks a question, and he even knows how to read. But at recess time Oliver finds out that there's something Albert can't do-he can't play kickball. So Oliver decides to teach Albert how to play. And along the way, Oliver and Albert both learn the importance of having a true friend. ... Read more

Book Description

"On Monday Mrs. Hubbub's class was getting out of line./She told them to behave or they would all turn into swine." But her students do not listen. As they become more rude and rowdy, their hands turn into hooves and their noses turn into snouts! So the school nurse calls in a specialist--the Pig Lady, who recognizes the problem immediately. With her help, the children begin to recall and recite proper manners. "Every time I'm picked on, it makes me feel so small./So don't make fun of anyone. Don't bully or name-call." As they come to recognize their mistakes, the students' tails, snouts and hooves begin to disappear. Before long, yucky habits are dropped and hurt feelings go away. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Poppleton the pig knows how to make the most of a season's offerings. Inthree short, charming chapters, Poppleton deals with fallen icicles, makes abust of his llama friend's head, and enjoys a very happy surprise birthdayparty. Young readers will giggle at the changing expressions on the characters'faces as they carry on their misadventures and comedies of errors.

The eighth title in Cynthia Rylant and Mark Teague's popular Poppleton series(Poppleton in Spring,Poppleton Has Fun, etc.)will be received with open arms by the many fans of the portly porker. Anexcellent way for kids to move into early chapter books, the series featuressimple language, funny, easy to follow vignettes, and appealing watercolorillustrations of Poppleton and his motley crew of friends (Patrick the finch,Cherry Sue the llama, Hudson the mouse... you get the picture). (Ages 4 to 7)--Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Three tales of what Poppleton did during the winter
In Book 8 of the adventures of Poppleton, the popular pig enjoys winter in a trio of short stories. "Icicles" finds Poppleton admiring the very long icicles that grew on his house, while everybody else in town only complains about them. In the end, Poppleton learns there are something in life even better than beautiful icicles. "The Bust" tells how each winter Poppleton finds a new activity to keep him busy. This winter he decides to make a bust of Cherry Sue, the goat who lives next door. The only problem is, he cannot always remember the details of her face. Finally, "The Sleigh Ride" is about the trouble Poppleton has finding someone to go with him on a sleigh ride on a snowy day. Unfortunately, all of his friends are busy baking treats and no one has time to go. If only Poppleton had remembered what day it was. The Poppleton books tell appealing stories aimed at beginning readers that can also be told aloud to younger children. Cynthia Rylant's stories are fun and each one develops a sense of anticipation, since kids pick up that there is going to be some sort of payoff to each humorous situation. The pencil and water color illustrations by Mark Teague use lots of nice bright colors that will delight the eyes of children (and he has a wonderful two-page picture of Poppleton and his friends on a midnight sleigh ride to impress their parents). This is an excellent book for beginning readers, even if you live someplace that does not have snow and icicles half the year...

As always, Poppleton is a joy to read
This latest book of Poppleton is just as sweet and gentle as the others, and it is easy reading for my 2nd grader. You can't go wrong with this book. "The Bust" chapter is the funniest with Cherry Sue, in which Poppleton wants to sculpt a bust of Cherry Sue, but can't remember what she looks like. "The Icicles" chapter in which he meets a clumsy little finch, Patrick, and the "Sleigh Ride" are also good-natured stories that bring the feel of winter to the reader which is perfect for the upcoming snowy season. ... Read more

Book Description

These are the things a mama loves:

Dancing in slippers.
Teapots of tea.
Reading the paper
and mornings with me!

Mama always finds ways to share life's moments big and small with all her little ones. Tenderly illustrated by award-winning artist Kathryn Brown, mama loves will strike a chord with every child who loves being loved by Mama.

Reviews (1)

Enchanting!
A lovely book to read aloud to child, to give as a gift to all the Mamas you know... Don't miss the magic as Rebecca Kai Dotlich's charming, musical words cavort with a family of lovable pigs created by Kathyryn Brown. A *must have* for Mother's Day and all the other days of the year as well. ... Read more

Amazon.com

For a potbellied pig, Perrier seems to have it all: "arhinestone-studded harness, a jaunty sports cap, and special piglet-sized darkglasses." And with his movie-star owner Marabella, he even gets to live in aluxurious nursery in a luxurious mansion, "a place as posh as it was plush, andspic as it was span." But Perrier still can't get over the gnawing feeling thatsomething's missing from his squeaky-clean life, "an emptiness in the pit of hislittle potbelly."

Of course, anyone familiar with porcine proclivities shouldn't have toomuch trouble guessing what Perrier's missing, and after a visit to a farm in thecountry--and some illicit ishing, squishing, slushing, mushing, mucking, andmiring with the locals--Perrier figures out what his piggy heart and hide havebeen hankering for. When Marabella discovers Perrier's dirty secret, though,he's in for the bubble bath of his life. But can he keep his hooves-over-heartpromise to stay clean evermore?

Martin Matje clearly has a ball here illustrating Perrier's Hollywood excess,from cocktail parties to sports cars, and Elizabeth Spurr matches him line forline with sharp turns of phrase and squeal-worthy wit. For example, on a filmset in Paris: "'Voilà, le porc, how pink and clean.' 'Wee, wee,' squeakedPerrier. 'Quel pig!' they exclaimed. 'He even speaks français!'" Aguaranteed charmer for any pig--or kid--who has ever promised to stay clean.(Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Of a purebred potbellied pig who lives with a movie star
Elizabeth Spurr and Martin Matje's A Pig Named Perrier tells of a purebred potbellied pig who lives with a movie star. Perrier is the toast of the town but feels something is still missing in his life. His search for inner meaning provides gentle food for thought.

Cute book
My five year old daughter enjoyed this book even though she found the story line hard to understand at times ...."After Paris, the two glittered at foreign film festivals." If the story had been written in a more simple, child-friendly way I'm sure it would have been more enjoyable to read. ... Read more