Pigs to the Rescue

Pigs to the Rescue: A Picture Book by John Himmelman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Farmer Greenstalk's pigs are eager to follow in the chickens' footsteps and save the day...but they aren't quite as successful in their efforts, which makes for some hilarious illustrations. The spirited swine romp through the week with more enthusiasm than sense: plowing furrows deep enough to stand up in, drenching the flower garden down to bare stalks, ripping a kite out of a tree, waking the neighborhood with a cacophony of squeals and oinks, tying on a shoe with a cocoon of rope and ribbon, and sending the duck on a birthday balloon ride. When the cat spills her milk, the family warns, "Don't let the pigs know!"

...Cows to the rescue!

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Chickens to the Rescue

Chickens to the Rescue by John Himmelman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Farmer Greenstalk & his family are incredibly lucky to have such amazing chickens! The plucky poultry retrieve a watch from a well, cook dinner, rewrite a chewed up book report, bring back a stolen truck, rescue a cow from a tree, and bring home lost sheep. Chickens to the rescue! But by Sunday, they are tired and deserve a rest. ...Pigs to the rescue!

This hilarious tale of resourceful hens had the preschoolers in my storytime cackling with glee. We practiced saying the repeated phrase, "Chickens to the rescue!" before we began, and they belted it out with enthusiasm on every other page (spread).

I do wish the human characters weren't all so pale-skinned, but otherwise this is a fantastic, funny, farce.

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The Quiltmaker's Journey

The Quiltmaker's Journey by Jeff Brumbeau
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The follow-up story to The Quiltmaker's Gift, this picture book tells how the quiltmaker transformed from an unhappy, sheltered rich girl to a generous woman who lives alone on a mountain sewing beautiful quilts for the poor.

The illustrations are gorgeous and captivate my toddler, making it one of her favorites to read over and over. The story is lovely overall, although I find myself making snarky mental comments about the plot holes (for example: if everyone in the town was rich, did that include the myriad servants, and if so, why didn't they quit?). There is a lot of text, which makes it better for older children, so most of the time I use the pictures to tell an abridged version of the story at bedtime.

Themes: generosity, poverty, animal helpers, use your life

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