Ping Pong Pig

PreS-Gr 1-Ping Pong wants to fly, and he jumps off anything he can climb to try to make his dream come true. His attempts at flying cause problems in the barnyard, and the other animals meet to decide what to do about the pig. Instead of punishing their bouncy friend, they give him a trampoline so that he can jump to his heart's content. He is so pleased with his new gift and their kindness that he uses his trampoline to undo all the messes he has made. This book is similar in style to Church's Little Apple Goat (Eerdmans, 2007). The story is simple and short, with only a few lines per spread, and it is set in a friendly, informal font that flows from page to page. The pictures are colorful and expressive. The animals are done with an economy of line, but have obvious personality. The well-worn theme of following a dream is complemented with a stronger theme of friendship and returning a kindness for a kindness. (However, adults may want to mention that it is not a good idea to jump out of a tree onto a trampoline.) Overall, this is a pleasant story with potential as a read-aloud.-Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Ping Pong is a pig after a child's own heart. While the other farm animals diligently go about their chores, Ping Pong works with diligence--and a fine measure of joyous mayhem--trying to fly. Not in a plane or balloon, but purely by trotter-power: jumping out of trees or off the barn roof and always laying waste to the hard work of the other animals. Church is able to keep Ping Pong sweet because he is also oblivious: "Ping Pong Pig was far too busy doing his own thing." When the animals give Ping Pong a trampoline in an attempt to corral the chaos, it looks like he is about to mend his ways, using the trampoline to help around the farm. Fortunately, it's only a blip on the radar before, once again, now trampoline-assisted, it's bombs away. The illustrations work to convey a sense of springtime innocence: bathed in color, with sure-handed line-work that has the depth of cutouts. Hold fast to the spirit of youth, little Ping Pong; once pigs fly, what's to stop them from driving the family car? (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.