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Pignic: A Springtime Book For Kids
It’s a perfect day for a pignic!
A blue sky. A shady tree. A bright kite. And a full picnic basket. Four little pigs and their parents head outside to enjoy a beautiful day. With a little help from some new (and unexpected) friends, they climb trees, fly kites, and enjoy a delicious picnic. Even a sudden rain shower can’t ruin their fun. Because rain means . . . MUD! Hooray!
The award-winning and New York Times–bestselling Matt Phelan has created a timeless, must-have picture book for the youngest reader. Expressive watercolors; a simple, repetitive text; and gentle, satisfying twists will delight fans of Tad Hills’s Duck & Goose and Anna Dewdney’s Llama Llama books.
A blue sky. A shady tree. A bright kite. And a full picnic basket. Four little pigs and their parents head outside to enjoy a beautiful day. With a little help from some new (and unexpected) friends, they climb trees, fly kites, and enjoy a delicious picnic. Even a sudden rain shower can’t ruin their fun. Because rain means . . . MUD! Hooray!
The award-winning and New York Times–bestselling Matt Phelan has created a timeless, must-have picture book for the youngest reader. Expressive watercolors; a simple, repetitive text; and gentle, satisfying twists will delight fans of Tad Hills’s Duck & Goose and Anna Dewdney’s Llama Llama books.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 6, 2018
161 people want to read
About the author
Matt Phelan
49 books274 followersMatt Phelan made his illustrating debut with Betty G. Birney’s The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster). Since then he has illustrated many picture books and novels for young readers, including Where I Live by Eileen Spinelli (Dial), Very Hairy Bear by Alice Schertle (Harcourt), and The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron (Simon & Schuster) winner of the 2007 Newbery Medal.
Matt studied film and theater in college with the goal of one day writing and directing movies. But his first love was always drawing, and the more he saw the wonderful world of children’s books, the more he realized that this was the place for him. Being an illustrator is in many ways like being an actor, director, cinematographer, costumer, and set designer rolled into one.
Matt writes: “I have a fascination with the decade of the 1930s. The movies were learning to talk (and in the case of King Kong, growl), the music was beginning to swing, and the nation was thrown into tremendous turmoil. On one hand, you see a level of suffering documented in the dramatic and gritty photography of Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans. On the other hand, consider what the American public was flocking to see in the movie theaters: the glamour and grace of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing in a series of perfect musicals. For my first book as both writer and illustrator (coming in 2009 by Candlewick Press), I naturally gravitated to this complex decade, specifically the strange world of the Dust Bowl.”
Matt studied film and theater in college with the goal of one day writing and directing movies. But his first love was always drawing, and the more he saw the wonderful world of children’s books, the more he realized that this was the place for him. Being an illustrator is in many ways like being an actor, director, cinematographer, costumer, and set designer rolled into one.
Matt writes: “I have a fascination with the decade of the 1930s. The movies were learning to talk (and in the case of King Kong, growl), the music was beginning to swing, and the nation was thrown into tremendous turmoil. On one hand, you see a level of suffering documented in the dramatic and gritty photography of Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans. On the other hand, consider what the American public was flocking to see in the movie theaters: the glamour and grace of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing in a series of perfect musicals. For my first book as both writer and illustrator (coming in 2009 by Candlewick Press), I naturally gravitated to this complex decade, specifically the strange world of the Dust Bowl.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
June 30, 2018
Simple and fun. Great for toddlers.
February 6, 2019
A family of pigs go on a picnic. After a brief storm, they enjoy the resulting mud. The main theme is that unexpected negative occurrences beyond our control can bring a positive result. Soft watercolor illustrations in pastel colors (except for the stormy spread).
October 30, 2017
This is a great book for a baby storytime. Very short with limited text and big, bright illustrations about pigs having a great day at their pignic. Hooray!
March 26, 2018
Adorable illustrations, an unexpected twist, and simple text - perfect for Toddler Time.
June 24, 2019
First sentence: It's a perfect day for a pignic.
Premise/plot: A family of pigs set out to have a picnic pignic. Will things go smoothly?
My thoughts: This one has super-simple text and a fun story. Little problems never become big ones, there's a solution for every problem. For example, there's no wind to fly the kites?! But no worries! The "big, bad" wolf is there to provide some huffing-puffing wind! Those kites will fly after all! Sometimes the best things that happen are unplanned.
Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 9 out of 10
Premise/plot: A family of pigs set out to have a picnic pignic. Will things go smoothly?
My thoughts: This one has super-simple text and a fun story. Little problems never become big ones, there's a solution for every problem. For example, there's no wind to fly the kites?! But no worries! The "big, bad" wolf is there to provide some huffing-puffing wind! Those kites will fly after all! Sometimes the best things that happen are unplanned.
Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 9 out of 10
March 4, 2018
Simple, sweet exuberance.
May 16, 2024
Mud makes everything good 😉
Read
December 19, 2022ah! to be in springtime on a picnic! :')
May 15, 2018
Phelan mashes up some familiar stories while at the same time employing some comic twists to them.
For instance, the family of pigs meet a tortoise which gives them a lift, a scary wolf who is successfully re-directed to a more useful employment of his huffing and puffing, and a happy turn in the weather which turns their picnic into a mud bath. Three cheers for ingenuity in enjoying the great outdoors.
For instance, the family of pigs meet a tortoise which gives them a lift, a scary wolf who is successfully re-directed to a more useful employment of his huffing and puffing, and a happy turn in the weather which turns their picnic into a mud bath. Three cheers for ingenuity in enjoying the great outdoors.
July 18, 2018
Adorable, lovely watercolor illustrations, and story is told in sparse text. Picnics are fun and this pig family has enjoyable adventures as well as good food. The ending is just perfect for pigs.
May 16, 2018
A family of pigs decides to go out and have a picnic - er, sorry, make that PIGnic. :) As the day goes on, rain clouds, a lack of wind for kite-flying, and other misfortunes put a damper on their plans. But the pigs find creative solutions to each problem, and the fun goes on! This is a darling story about optimism and making the most of a bad situation. The illustrations are soft and full of bright colors and charming pig characters who would look right at home decorating the walls of a nursery. The story is told as much through the illustrations as it is through the text. Many pictures stand alone without any narration, which encourages kids to make predictions and describe what's happening in their own words. One of the most effective pages is the one where the rain starts to fall. The pig family huddles close together in a small corner, while an oppressive dark gray wash overwhelms the rest of the double-page spread. It perfectly represents the gloom of the unexpected rain shower.
Matt Phelan does a solid job with the pacing of the story, effectively using page and panel breaks to create a sense of surprise. I actually laughed out loud when I got to the part with the wolf. It ended up going in a completely different direction than I was expecting, with fun results. Phelan also has fun with the typography, adding curly pig tails to some of the words.
My one hesitation about using this for storytime is that the characters are a little small on some of the pages and can be difficult to see from a distance. The sparse text, however, is great for keeping a young crowd's interest, and the repetition of "Uh-oh" and "Hooray!" adds some great opportunities for audiences to join in. Overall, a sweet story about finding the silver lining in any situation.
Matt Phelan does a solid job with the pacing of the story, effectively using page and panel breaks to create a sense of surprise. I actually laughed out loud when I got to the part with the wolf. It ended up going in a completely different direction than I was expecting, with fun results. Phelan also has fun with the typography, adding curly pig tails to some of the words.
My one hesitation about using this for storytime is that the characters are a little small on some of the pages and can be difficult to see from a distance. The sparse text, however, is great for keeping a young crowd's interest, and the repetition of "Uh-oh" and "Hooray!" adds some great opportunities for audiences to join in. Overall, a sweet story about finding the silver lining in any situation.
May 19, 2018
An adorable family of pigs head out on a sunny day for the perfect picnic. A friendly turtle helps the littlest pig climb up into a tree. As other pigs want to fly a kite, a wolf sneaks up on them. There isn’t any wind, but luckily the wolf has a solution and fixes the problem with a “Huff puff.” Called to eat, the pigs leave the wolf holding the kite. Soon storm clouds gather and rain pours down in a gush. It leaves lots of mud behind, much to the joy of the pig family!
With one problem after another, the pigs still manage to have a wonderful picnic together. The text is very simple, with a natural rhythm that ends with a chorus of “Hooray!” when each obstacle is overcome. This playful book shows the power of helping one another and having a positive outlook. The illustrations are done in watercolors and pencils, showing pink pigs of all sizes ready for a great day together. Even the blue wolf is not scary, just right for the littlest listeners. A book that will have everyone planning the next picnic. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
With one problem after another, the pigs still manage to have a wonderful picnic together. The text is very simple, with a natural rhythm that ends with a chorus of “Hooray!” when each obstacle is overcome. This playful book shows the power of helping one another and having a positive outlook. The illustrations are done in watercolors and pencils, showing pink pigs of all sizes ready for a great day together. Even the blue wolf is not scary, just right for the littlest listeners. A book that will have everyone planning the next picnic. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
September 26, 2018
The pigs are...naked.
But Fussy ol' Library Lady, you say, pigs are always naked. Pigs don't wear clothes!
True. But there is a way of drawing animals in anthropomorphized situations that makes that notable. This isn't the first book I've seen that way, I've seen it in Ciara Gavin's bear books too. It's the sort of style that makes me feel as if I'm looking at a naked human being, and it's unnerving.
Pity. The story is cute, with the pigs on a picnic, the "Big Bad" wolf turning out to be a nice guy who helps the little piggies fly their kite using his "huff and puff" breath, and the ending pages celebrating the sybaritic joys of a mud bath.
But what the immortal Radar O'Reilly of M*A*S*H would have called the "nakeditity" of these pigs is disturbing.
To me, at least.
But Fussy ol' Library Lady, you say, pigs are always naked. Pigs don't wear clothes!
True. But there is a way of drawing animals in anthropomorphized situations that makes that notable. This isn't the first book I've seen that way, I've seen it in Ciara Gavin's bear books too. It's the sort of style that makes me feel as if I'm looking at a naked human being, and it's unnerving.
Pity. The story is cute, with the pigs on a picnic, the "Big Bad" wolf turning out to be a nice guy who helps the little piggies fly their kite using his "huff and puff" breath, and the ending pages celebrating the sybaritic joys of a mud bath.
But what the immortal Radar O'Reilly of M*A*S*H would have called the "nakeditity" of these pigs is disturbing.
To me, at least.
March 13, 2018
Cute story. A family of pigs heads out on a beautiful day and encounters some obstacles -- too short to climb the tree, no wind to fly the kite, and finally rain. Fortunately, everything is overcome. The back cover hints at a wolf who is watching the piglets and inside we see the wolf creep up menacingly. But with a twist, he huffs and puffs and the kite goes sailing. Likewise, rain may literally dampen the day but not their spirits because now there's mud!
Phelan has some fun with the font as well, sneaking in pig-tail curlicues on the title, first word, and 'hooray' which appears in a few places. The watercolor and pencil artwork is soft, warm, and has an inviting palette.
Simple text that would make this not only a good read aloud but also a possibility for an emerging reader -- some repetition, and easy to read the pictures to help with the words.
Phelan has some fun with the font as well, sneaking in pig-tail curlicues on the title, first word, and 'hooray' which appears in a few places. The watercolor and pencil artwork is soft, warm, and has an inviting palette.
Simple text that would make this not only a good read aloud but also a possibility for an emerging reader -- some repetition, and easy to read the pictures to help with the words.
February 10, 2018
Reviewed for YA Books Central
A cute adventure with a family of pigs.
As you can guess by the title, the pigs decide to go on a picnic at the park. The day is bright and beautiful. Everything is perfect. They climb trees, eat food, and fly kites. They make friends with a tortoise and even the wolf makes an appearance. Not even rain can dampen their fun because rain means mud and there's nothing pigs like more than playing in the mud.
It's a cute book. I loved the images. The story is minimal with only one line on each page. It says it's for ages 4-8, but it's more appropriate for around 3-years-old. It would be a great book for someone just learning to read, however.
Final Verdict: A cute story for the youngest readers that has a sort of joy throughout the pages.
A cute adventure with a family of pigs.
As you can guess by the title, the pigs decide to go on a picnic at the park. The day is bright and beautiful. Everything is perfect. They climb trees, eat food, and fly kites. They make friends with a tortoise and even the wolf makes an appearance. Not even rain can dampen their fun because rain means mud and there's nothing pigs like more than playing in the mud.
It's a cute book. I loved the images. The story is minimal with only one line on each page. It says it's for ages 4-8, but it's more appropriate for around 3-years-old. It would be a great book for someone just learning to read, however.
Final Verdict: A cute story for the youngest readers that has a sort of joy throughout the pages.
September 18, 2018
Excellent Story Time book for very young children. Pairs nicely with "The Three Little Pigs". The few words are in very large font, about one line on each page. As in classic children's stories, there is a repetitive structure. The repeating word which creates the form of the plot is the word "Uh-oh". For many children, this is their favorite word, so it is particularly delightful to have it in a picture book! The story demonstrates 3 wonderful ways to turn a scary or ominous event into something fun and happy. Includes beautiful watercolor illustrations.
August 29, 2018
What an adorable book! The illustrations are so wonderful and adorable. The story is SUPER short, but delightful. Only a few words on a page, sometimes one or two, but it's done so well. Everything goes so well together and there's some twists (such as the wolf) and I love it.
I highly recommend this book!
My favorite part was, "Mud? Mud!". It made me so happy! And the pigs looked so happy!
Plus, I love the play on words. Pig-nic (picnic). Brilliant.
I highly recommend this book!
My favorite part was, "Mud? Mud!". It made me so happy! And the pigs looked so happy!
Plus, I love the play on words. Pig-nic (picnic). Brilliant.
January 6, 2022
A pig family decides to venture out on a "pignic" one day with a basket full of goodies. During their fun outing, they encounter some issues but end up having some help from some surprising creatures along the way. Then a big "problem" happens and the pigs don't have anyone to help them with this one so they make lemonade out of lemons! Phelan's books are definitely geared towards the younger audience with few words on each page but they do contain lots of fun and entertaining illustrations!
June 29, 2022
Pignic is simply charming. It's written simply with joy.
I'm glad I read Pignic on the recommendation I found on the home page. Thank you, Cheryl.
Pignic is great fun.
5 stars for Pignic
"Pretzels! Pies! Pickles! And plums!"The illustrations highlight that joy. The blue wolf lurking around provided a delightful surprise and celebrated the joys with the pigs.
I'm glad I read Pignic on the recommendation I found on the home page. Thank you, Cheryl.
Pignic is great fun.
5 stars for Pignic
March 25, 2018
A family of pigs goes out for a picnic. With a kite and picnic basket in hand, and clear skies above, they are set! But then a few obstacles present themselves, and the pigs need a bit of help. How does their outing go? Read this book to find out!
Perfect for a quick read-aloud. Lovely, dreamy art by Matt Phelan.
Perfect for a quick read-aloud. Lovely, dreamy art by Matt Phelan.
June 19, 2018
Not my speed content-wise but it's a very well-written beginning reader/picture book combo, giving it a slightly broader appeal than one or the other. I already have a lot of respect for Phelan's graphic novels, so it makes his foray into the picture book world all the more exciting (I dunno if this is his first or not; I haven't read any of his picture books before).
August 25, 2018
Meh. It's a cute little story, but, while I liked the cover art, I found the rest of the illustrations not to be my cup of tea. Additionally, I don't prefer to use books for storytime that have plot occurring in the illustrations that aren't reflected in the narration. My kiddos just don't get it. On-on-one, however, this would probably work very well. And the end it adorable.
January 16, 2019
Age: Toddler-Preschool
Animals: Pigs, wolf, turtle
Nature: Being outside
Food: Picnic
What wonderful things to do on a picnic with this pig family. But, uh-oh! There are some setbacks that are solved with the help of friends. A rainstorm at the end leads to mud everywhere. Everywhere? Everywhere!
Animals: Pigs, wolf, turtle
Nature: Being outside
Food: Picnic
What wonderful things to do on a picnic with this pig family. But, uh-oh! There are some setbacks that are solved with the help of friends. A rainstorm at the end leads to mud everywhere. Everywhere? Everywhere!
April 19, 2019
A pig family goes outside on a sunny day for a picnic, only to get rained out. But no problem--they love the mud! This had very sparse text--hardly a sentence per page, with cute illustrations. I probably wouldn't use this for a storytime, but in a one-on-one read you could have the kids explain whats happening in the illustrations, and that would be fun.
May 23, 2019
Okay. I liked this book way more than I thought I would. After all, who doesn't like books about PIGnics?
There are a lot of ways this can be used in early literacy capabilities. The characters encounter problems and have to problem solve! Because "P" is a common letter, I would use my magic letter wands ;) It's also a cute book to talk about helping others.
There are a lot of ways this can be used in early literacy capabilities. The characters encounter problems and have to problem solve! Because "P" is a common letter, I would use my magic letter wands ;) It's also a cute book to talk about helping others.
July 3, 2023
It's such a perfect day for a pignic, that even enemies turn out to be friends, and a little rain shower can only make things more . . . muddy. The author's artwork is always a delight. And, doesn't food always taste a little better outdoors?
January 16, 2024
Simple book about pigs going in a picnic and the friends that help them throughout the day. It has a cute ending and the whole book reads really fun. My kids were laughing out loud throughout the book and eally enjoyed it.
Illustrations = Simple & nothing special
Story = Simple but in a good way and really amusing
Illustrations = Simple & nothing special
Story = Simple but in a good way and really amusing
March 27, 2018
Really cute, simple book, with sweet illustrations. Pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Would be good for little ones, because of the simple, sparse text and repetitive structure. Would work for pigs, picnics, or mud storytime!
March 28, 2018
I read this through twice and it is ADORABLE. There are some fun little twists, which Phelan brilliantly sets up in his artwork. And can we take a moment to admire the artwork? That brilliant blend of pencil & watercolor? Yes, yes we can. I’m certainly adding this little gem to my bookshelves ASAP!
April 15, 2018
The illustrations in this book are adorable! I love that the pigs get a little help from some friends and that the wolf was given a small, but positive role in the story. This book embodies joy and love and family and community and fun.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews