Small Florence, Piggy Pop Star

by Claire Alexander

Small Florence has big dreams of becoming a piggy pop star. But when she tries to sing in front of her two older sisters, nothing comes out but a shy little squeak! When her sisters get the chance to sing in a contest on TV, Florence wishes she could join them. On the day of the competition, the judges get ready to pick a star. And then a truly amazing thing happens!



Claire Alexander's sweet, funny story is an inspiring tale about believing in yourself.

Genres: Picture Books, Fiction, Childrens, Storytime, Self Esteem, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 12, 2009

About the author

Claire was born in Bath, Wiltshire and moved to Kent when she was six. she has always loved drawing from an early age and remembers being asked by her school mates to draw rabbits for them! After school she studied Fine Art at the Kent Institute of Art and Design in Canterbury where she achieved a BA degree in Painting. She moved to London in 1995 and stumbled through many different jobs until she studied children's illustration at Putney School of Art. Here Claire produced her first dummy book for Small Florence, which was then published and started her dream career as an author illustrator.

In 2007 Claire wrote her own course on writing and illustrating picture books which she has been teaching ever since, and now at the House of Illustration. She regularly visits schools and enjoys drawing for children.

Claire's new title 'The Best Bit of Daddy's Day' will be published in June 2016.

'Monkey and the Little One' was shortlisted for the 2015 Junior Design Awards and listed as one of the top ten best new picture books during Independent Book Sellers Week 2015.

'Back to Front and Upside Down' won the 2013 Schneider Family Book Award from the American Libraries Associataion. The award honors an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.

'Lucy and the Bully' won the 2009 Paterson Prize for Young People and 'Small Florence' was short listed for the 2010 Mad About Books Stockport Schools' Book Award.

Reviews

[Kelsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book had a strange and hard to read font, it felt like it rambled (had a weak plot and ending), the message wasn’t that empowering and was kind of muddled, and the sisters seemed stereotypical, annoying, just plain mean, and unrelatable. It also seems like they didn’t learn any kind of lesson from the events in the story (they got stage fright so the answer was to never sing again and just take credit for their sister’s success? They didn’t think they should practice more, try again, not be so cocky, and learn to include their sister in their lives more because exclusion is what caused their performance conflict?). The lesson in this book will be majorly obscured for young children, thereby defeating its purpose.

[Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little disappointed that the judges didn't end up being Simon Fowl, Pawla Abdul, and Randy Jackalson.

[Catarina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a super quick read, but I enjoyed. A great story for sisters and wanting what is best for them.

[Hye Eun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Florence is a small pig who loves to sing and become a piggy pop star. However, her two sisters always discourages her and brings her down. When there was a competition, she wanted to enter but her sisters wouldn't let her. Once the sisters got up on the stage, they froze up and Florence started singing. The judge heard her voice and got first place! I would use this book to teach about how you can be what you dream to be. People might try to bring you down, but if you keep trying, you can make it happen. Grade K-1

[Nancy Jo Lambert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Florence is a small pig with big dreams! She wants to sing and be a star. What kid doesn't dream? However, Florence has trouble finding her voice. Her sisters, however, do not.

Florence's sisters enter a singing competition, but exclude Florence. Once at the competition, the sisters are too nervous to compete. Florence belts out her song in a beautiful voice though that the judges adore.

A nice read for young kids!

[Ali Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The storyline was interesting because of the common "older evil sister" story. It was funny how it turned out. The pictures were bright and colorful but the sister pigs looked a little too promiscuous for a children's book.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about believing in yourself and how to become a piggy pop star.

[Tina B · Rating 3 out of 5]

pigs, stage fright, singing, reality show

[Cat · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book about finding courage. Maybe not the most entertaining storytime book.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about a little pig with a big dream. This book could be used to teach vocabulary and work on context clues.

[Naomi · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is supposed to be a book on self-confidence, but it failed miserably. It was drawn out and boring. The book dragged out to me.