Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
An insatiable reader, Piggy spends his days poring over books in his personal library at the expense of making real-life friends. After Piggy finds himself with just one book left to read, he decides that he "should save this happy ending." Wearing overalls and red eyeglasses as large as his head, the ingenuous piglet ventures outside and comes across a cat reading in a tree swing. Recognizing her as a potential friend, Piggy tries to catch her attention-even flying loop-the-loops in his open-cockpit plane-but the cat's eyes never leave her book until Piggy simply introduces himself and shares his remaining book with her. Lai (Tomo Explores the World) gives Piggy a good amount of personality in his brassy cartoons (the character also features in digital animations created by Lai's company, Up Studios), but the overall story is predictable and somewhat cloying. In the oddest moment, Piggy gives the cat, Kate, a pair of glasses that match his because she "couldn't see the words in Piggy's book clearly"-a strange revelation considering she has spent the entire book reading intently. Ages 3-6. Agent: Jennifer Rofé, Andrea Brown Literary. (Dec.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-This spectacle-wearing porcine protagonist is an avid reader. Piggy has been so busy reading about friendships, he's forgotten to make any of his own. He tries to catch the attention of a cat whose nose is also constantly in a book. He uses flowers, bubbles, airplane messages, and more, but nothing seems to distract the reading feline. Finally, he realizes sharing a book with a fellow bookworm may be the best way to win over this new friend. The idea is successful, and the two go on to read and play together-matching glasses and all. The illustrations-rendered in pencil and watercolor, then digitally finished-are well-done, and the characters really are adorable. The slightly disjointed story and choppy text don't rise to the bar set by the accompanying pictures; however, that may not matter. The book jacket states that Piggy is already the animated star of his own app, and has been downloaded more than 65 million times as an emoticon. He may have a devoted audience regardless of how his picture book reads. VERDICT This tale of an endearing pig will catch the attention of young readers and is recommended for general purchase.-Lindsay Jensen, Nashville Public Library © 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 Kirkus Book Review
Into the crowded field of porcine protagonists comes Piggy, a friendless pig who loves to read.Piggy has been too busy reading all his life to make real friends. When hes down to his last book, he decides to save it. Then he grabs the first toy he comes upona kiteand heads out to fly it. He crashes his kite, but he sees a cat sitting on a swing, nose in a book. He decides to make her his friend. First he tries to get her attention with giant soap bubbles and gets literally carried away in a bubble. Then he tries flying his airplane overhead, trailing a friendly banner; she doesnt notice. However inventive he gets, the cat continues to read. Then Piggy gets an idea: friends in his books share what they love with each other. He gives the cat, Kate, his last book. Shes overjoyed to get it, but she needs glasses like Piggys to read ithappily, hes got a pair. (At this point readers will wonder how she was reading the book that so fascinated her in the preceding pages.) Entrepreneur and digital artist Lais traditional publishing debut has great intentions but not a lot of personality. Piggy trots well-tread ground in the digitally finished watercolor-and-pencil illustrations, which are bright but spare and uninteresting. Rather than a developed character, he resembles an emoji given a bland and illogical tale to inhabit. Pass on this porky paean to friendship; stick with Piggie with a side of Elephant. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
