Review by Booklist Review
Edward, a very particular pig, likes his surroundings as neat and clean as his person. He tidies his bedroom and irons his clothes before school each morning. He avoids friendly dogs, messy foods, and art supplies. When the baking soda volcano erupts at the front of science class, Edward can be found sitting in the back. Kids are playing baseball on a muddy field at recess? Look for him in the stands. But when he starts straightening the supply shelf during art, he's soon drenched in dripping paint. Instead of a meltdown, Edward has a breakthrough and begins to enjoy participating more than looking on at life. In her first picture book, children's librarian Meade lets Edward decide matters for himself, while the story makes its point with economy and gentle humor. The lively colored-pencil artwork portrays the particular pig with precision and fashions the chaos around him with gusto. Drawn with layered strokes of color, the illustrations are vibrant and full of interesting details. Fun for reading aloud to neat and scruffy kids alike.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Pigs have a reputation for being messy, but Edward, a "very particular pig," is more of a Marie Kondo type: "He detests dirt. He fears filth. He likes things to be just so." First-time author Meade, a Brooklyn-based librarian, makes it clear early on how Edward's commitment to tidiness means that he's living life from the sidelines-sometimes literally, such as when he doesn't join in a muddy game of baseball at school. When Edward accidentally gets messy while trying to straighten up an art supply shelf (instead of actually painting), he discovers that a little glop and slop might be worth it, if making art, experimenting with science, and having a more social existence are also part of the bargain. Working in colored pencil, debut illustrator Stern makes excellent use of bright colors and hand-drawn sound effects like "slurp" and squish" to create a joyful, dynamic world of leaf piles, puddles of paint, and airborne spaghetti and meatballs at lunch-messy and dirty, yes, but also well worth it. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Brooks Sherman, Bent Agency. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Edward is a young pig who likes a well-ordered life. While it might be satisfying to be so darn neat, it also poses some challenges. Edward can't pet a dog or eat any food that splatters, and school contains a whole host of horrors, with messy art projects and untidy outdoor activities. One fateful day, an entire shelf of art supplies falls, and Edward is bathed in a glorious and colorful mess. His initial anxiety quickly dissipates as he discovers the intrinsic joy of creating without worrying. Soon he is taking part in exploding science experiments, petting dogs, and slurping a very messy plate of spaghetti. The charming tale ends with Edward taking a bath and looking quite content. The text is matched perfectly by Stern's illustrations, which portray the fastidious lifestyle of Edward with precision and detail and then give way to utter abandon. The wonderful spread depicting a muddy and messy baseball game, with Edward sliding into second base, confirms his transformation. VERDICT This debut title is a delightful tale and a storytime winner. Pair it with Karen Beaumont's I Ain't Gonna Paint No More to help children embrace the messier side of life.-Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, MI © Copyright 2016. 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
Edward, a pig, prefers everything very clean and neat, but his compulsive behavior leads to a paint accident while straightening the school art supplies. After a stroke of artistic inspiration, Edward finds he can participate in school and play with friends--and get messy--without worry (there's always a bath). The too-quickly resolved story features childish cartoon illustrations tightly rendered in scratchy colored pencil. (c) Copyright 2017. 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.
