Pig & Goose and the First Day of Spring

PreS-Gr 2—This delightful transitional reader, dedicated to Arnold Lobel, celebrates the joy of new friendship. In the first chapter, Pig fixes herself a picnic on a beautiful day. The small white dot she spies turns out to be Goose, who lands right beside her. When Pig admires her new acquaintance's flying skills, Goose offers to teach her. But try as Pig might—and she is quite determined—she cannot leave the ground. "Pig put her head back and laughed loudly. Goose held his belly and laughed, too. They rolled in the road and snorted and honked. They laughed until they cried." In the second chapter, the new friends share Pig's picnic by the pond. Afterward, they rest, and Pig dreams she is flying. When she awakens, Goose is gone. The porker again notices a dot—this time in the water—getting larger and larger. " Wow!' exclaimed Pig. You can swim, too!' Goose blushed. Gosh,' he said, it is nothing. All geese can swim.' " Pig asserts that swimming is elegant, graceful, and quiet but laments that she herself is none of these things. The modest bird assures his friend that she has other talents. Brightening, Pig invites Goose to a "First-Day-of-Spring Party." In the final chapter, Pig hosts her party, which features many friends, delicious food, stories, and dancing. "'Pig,' whispered Goose, 'you are wonderful'. 'Really?' Pig said, blushing. 'Me?' 'Yes,' said Goose, 'you.' " Late that night, they tell each other how happy they are to be friends and make plans for another outing. The delicate watercolor and ink illustrations are as pleasing as the heartwarming text, which will appeal to children and their grown-ups.