A Pig Parade Is a Terrible Idea

K-Gr 3 An omniscient narrator explains why a pig parade is not the great idea that one might think it is. Who knew? These barnyard animals hate to march (preferring, inappropriately, to snuffle); flat out refuse to wear majorette uniforms; don't care about building floats ("the only floats pigs care about are root beer floats"); and prefer sad country music ballads to "good, spirited marching band music." Bold, full-color acrylic illustrations, painterly in their texture, hilariously extend the wacky premise with witty details (bungee cords secure the pigs' ill-fitting majorette uniforms) and varied perspectives (a pig snout snuffles for leftovers in a larger-than-life close-up). The story's conclusion, that "a panda bear parade, on the other hand, would be fantastic," is just as silly and arbitrary. The tongue-in-cheek tone of the text coupled with the large-scale illustrations and generous trim size make this a surefire storyhour read-aloud that will elicit laughter and cheers of delight.-"Kathleen Finn, St. Francis Xavier School, Winooski, VT" Copyright 2010 Media Source Inc.