Pig Pickin'

by Stephanie Greene

Hildy almost becomes the dinner at a Pig Pickin’ barbecue. Moose’s best friend, Hildy, is thrilled when a farmer invites her to enter a Pig Pickin’ contest down South. She thinks it’s a beauty contest, and Moose is eager to go with her. When they get to the county fair, however, Moose starts to worry. The farmer keeps offering Hildy pizza and ice cream. Why is he so interested in fattening her up? Is the Pig Pickin’ really a beauty contest—or is Hildy going to become the barbecue? Moose uses his wits to save his best friend from a terrible fate in this funny story about friendship and loyalty.

Genres: Picture Books, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2006

Reviews

[Pyrate Queen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moose and Hildy are best friends who live in the North. When Hildy gets an invitation to a Pig Pickin' in the South, she believes it to be a beauty contest so Moose offers to drive her down. But something funny at the county fair peaks his curiosity and he starts to investigate. What he discovers is no beauty contest. Will he manage to convince Hildy of the truth before its too late or will she become a true Pig Pickin'?

[Mary T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this aloud to my 7 and 6 year olds. It was okay. Kind of odd premise for a kid book.

[Kimberli · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Pig Pickin’ by Stephanie Greene, Moose and Hildy the pig are best friends. Hildy gets invited to a Pig Pickin’ by the farmer Mr. Hill, which she thinks is a beauty contest and Moose decides to go along for the ride. Hildy finds a beautiful frilly pink dress to wear for the contest and then they are off to meet the farmer at the carnival. Moose starts to worry when the farmer keeps feeding Hildy pizza, ice cream, and all other sorts of fattening foods. Moose can’t figure out why the farmer is so interested in fattening up Hildy. Read this book to find out if the Pig Pickin’ is really a beauty contest, or if Hildy is being fooled. The book also has fun illustrations by Joe Mathieu.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a strange story for young readers. A pig living in the North receives a letter from Wendell, the man who raised her grandmother. He asks her to come down for a Pig Pickin' and be in a contest. Hildy, the pig, shows her letter to Moose, her friend, and prepares to go to the festival. He accompanies her and she purchases an antebellum dress for the contest. Wendell stresses that she eat more and more food while Moose discovers that Hildy is being prepared to be barbecued. I am not completely against dark stories for kids but I found it strange that Southerners would be shown in the light of being liars and deceivers. I question why this is a topic in a children's book.

[San Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good independent reading

I chose this book for my son who is entering grade 3. It was easy for him to read and comprehend on his own.

I gave it 3* because this version had several errors (formatting, misspellings, and typos).

[Carissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

be aware that "pig pickin'" deals with the threat of hildy (the pig) becoming barbeque (spoiler: she avoids that fate, but it might be disturbing for vegetarians to read?).