Review by Booklist Review
PreS-Gr. 3. A little pig accompanies her grandfather to the museum on copying day, when artists are invited to draw and paint the collection. The astute young piglet notices that pieces of some paintings have been removed and replaced with amateurish patches. Though the guards are following a trail of evidence, only the piglet sees through the false clues and discovers the culprits. Narrated by the little pig, the text is straightforward, but the explanation of the mystery's unraveling is a bit complicated to follow, even with the accompanying pictures. The delicately tinted engravings themselves are quite wonderful: well imagined, detailed, and droll in their representation of works of art featuring pigs in a well-depicted museum setting. Geisert's fans will especially enjoy the visual references to his previous books. --Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2003 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Who's been stealing pieces of the paintings in the museum? That's just what a clever piglet and her grandfather attempt to find out in this newest adventure featuring Geisert's (Nursery Crimes) beloved pigs. Each week on "copying day," the book's young protagonist, along with Grandpa and other art-minded pigs, can be found at the local museum sketching the works on the walls. But when the aspiring artist piglet discovers that many paintings have been cut and then unskillfully patched, a mystery unfolds. Happily, the quick-thinking heroine's sketchpad and eye for detail help her solve the crime. Young readers may not have such an easy time of it, however, as Geisert's denouement takes a slightly complex twist or two. The setting here proves the perfect canvas for Geisert to unleash his gentle humor as well as his fondness for both art and pigs via his etchings. Several paintings on the museum walls suggest well-known American masterpieces, but feature pig subjects (e.g. a tribute to Grant Wood's American Gothic and a Calder-like mobile). And, of course, other Midwestern touches aboundangel pigs cavort on a painted dome ceiling; ears of corn frame a skylight. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-4-Clever concept and illustrations outshine the unsettling plot in this brief whodunit. A sharp-eyed piglet goes to the art museum with her grandpa for "copying day," when artists are invited to "draw and paint the collection." While she waits for Grandpa, who is copying haystacks, she notices that pieces of some paintings (all pictures of food) have been removed and "replaced with not so very good patches." Searching with the guards for clues, the little pig sketches each one, then tapes the sketches to a wall and uses them to solve the case. The culprits' hiding place is discovered, along with the stolen art. The piglet is rewarded, and then, in a humorous finale, shares lunch with her grandpa, unaware that the tiny art thieves are stealing her cookies. The large, well-crafted colored etchings on what appears to be vellum are clearly the focus of the book. The text is minimal, written in short, matter-of-fact sentences, but the solution of the case, involving an architectural detail in the building and other subtle clues, aims the book at older children. Little attention is given to the crime of art mutilation or putting it to a halt. A marginal purchase.-Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
While Grandpa Pig is copying a painting in the museum, his granddaughter notices that sections of several pictures have been cut away and patched. Thanks to her sharp eyes and detailed sketches of the evidence, the piglet figures out who committed the crime. Observant readers will enjoy studying Geisert's meticulous illustrations, which feature clues to the mystery. From HORN BOOK Spring 2004, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Geisert hits a new stride in this inventive, engaging mystery as a young piglet girl goes with her grandpa to the art museum for copying day--when the museum is closed and artists can come and paint or draw the collection. The piglet notices pieces of the paintings are missing and replaced with inferior patches. A ladder, apple core, and long coarse hair are clues that lead to a raccoon as the suspect, but the real culprit is somebody else. Geisert's usual finely detailed etchings flourish, involving readers who will love playing detective along with the piglet. Myriad details in the illustrations and pig images in paintings, sculpture, and mobiles throughout the museum command repeated viewing. Clever and ingenious with a great title: wonderful entertainment. (Picture book. 5-9) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
