Pigs, Pigs, Pigs!

by Lesléa Newman, Erika Oller (Illustrator)

"The pigs sit politely but hardly eat lightly.

In fact they all pig out in style."

Hooray The pigs are coming to town With great excitement the townspeople prepare a feast that only a pig could love. To thank them, the pigs put on a show only the townspeople could love. Then the pigs leave and everyone is exhausted -- but the work is not finished yet

They munch and they crunch on their oversized lunch,

Then each one sits back with a smile.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2003

About the author

Lesléa Newman (born 1955, Brooklyn, NY) is the author of over 50 books including Heather Has Two Mommies, A Letter To Harvey Milk, Writing From The Heart, In Every Laugh a Tear, The Femme Mystique, Still Life with Buddy, Fat Chance and Out of the Closet and Nothing to Wear.
She has received many literary awards including Poetry Fellowships from the Massachusetts Artists Fellowship Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Highlights for Children Fiction Writing Award, the James Baldwin Award for Cultural Achievement, and two Pushcart Prize Nominations.
Nine of her books have been Lambda Literary Award finalists.
Ms. Newman wrote Heather Has Two Mommies, the first children's book to portray lesbian families in a positive way, and has followed up this pioneering work with several more children's books on lesbian and gay families: Gloria Goes To Gay Pride, Belinda's Bouquet, Too Far Away to Touch, and Saturday Is Pattyday.
She is also the author of many books for adults that deal with lesbian identity, Jewish identity and the intersection and collision between the two. Other topics Ms. Newman explores include AIDS, eating disorders, butch/femme relationships and sexual abuse. Her award-winning short story, A Letter To Harvey Milk has been made into a film and adapted for the stage.
In addition to being an author, Ms. Newman is a popular guest lecturer, and has spoken on college campuses across the country including Harvard University, Yale University, the University of Oregon, Bryn Mawr College, Smith College and the University of Judaism. From 2005-2009, Lesléa was a faculty member of the Stonecoast MFA program at the University of Southern Maine. Currently, she is the Poet Laureate of Northampton, MA.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very weird art

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The town welcomes the pigs from all-over to a feast of gigantic proportions. After they munch on fried green tomatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, spaghetti, and apple brown betty, the pigs perform for the town. As they leave to go, they ask politely for a snack to tide them over.

Used for "National Pig Day" Storytime: March, 2012.

[Olivia S · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't wild on this. The illustrations are a bit mushy and blend into each other, and the overall story just bugs me. I think it's just too non-vegan pretending to be vegan, and I can't get on board with it. Also nothing special, even if I wasn't vegan.

[Krissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A town prepares for their fun day with the pigs. Kinda silly, kinda cute.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to my 6-year-old niece. So cute.

As Always, Happy Reading!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I forgot to rate this when I read it, but if I remember correctly there is a parade celebrating pigs but oddly enough I think they were serving meat or something contradictory at the parade village

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange, but entertaining tale about visiting pigs and their enormous appetites. The watercolor illustrations are nice, if a bit blurry, and they really show the raucous nature of the visit.

I couldn't help thinking as I read this book aloud with our girls, "Why are they feeding these pigs so much food? Are they fattening them up for a mass slaughter?"

But then I realized that this was just a fun little children's book and that would have made the book more of a horror story. Still... the next 'guests' are sheep. So, my twisted thoughts continue.

Overall, the rhyming narrative makes this a fun book to read aloud and we enjoyed reading it together.

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. All the rhyming and creative writing. The party isn't even over once the pigs leave. The sheep are due to arrive next...