Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Originally published as part of Four Stories for Four Seasons (1977), Four Friends in Autumn by Tomie dePaola follows Mistress Pig as she invites her friends, Mister Frog, Missy Cat and Master Dog, over for a fancy dinner to celebrate the lovely fall weather. But will her victuals actually make it to the table? (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Reissued from the collection Four Stories for Four Seasons (S & S, 1980), this vignette deals with a winsome animal foursome. Seasonal details provide a backdrop for the narrative, which concerns Mistress Pig's dinner party. After encouraging her guests to enjoy the simple delights of fall, their hostess excuses herself to put the finishing touches on the meal. Missy Cat, Master Dog, and Mister Frog wait patiently at the table until an inordinate amount of time has passed. Hungry and concerned, they venture into the kitchen to see what might be amiss. It seems that Mistress Pig took her "finishing touches" rather too literally and in the course of taste testing the dishes, gobbled up the entire repast. Gracious and true friends even in the face of adversity, they console their distraught if sated hostess. Master Dog suggests they go to a restaurant where Mistress Pig begins her dinner with dessert. Signature dePaola illustrations, featuring cartoon characters with expressive faces, highlight this simple yet very funny story. Borders made from acorns and brown and gold leaves evoke the season.-Rosalyn Pierini, San Luis Obispo City-County Library, CA (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
Mistress Pig invites her friends to dinner but, when preparing the meal, can't stop herself from eating all the food. Originally a chapter in Four Stories for Four Seasons (1977), the story is not quite as successful on its own because the relationships between the friends are less well defined. Nevertheless, DePaola's text and art still tell a funny story. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
