Reviews
If You Give a Pig a Party is the seventh book in the "If You Give A..." series of books. This time the Pig from If You Give a Pig a Pancake is back and she wants a slumber party. Like the other books in the series, If You Give a Pig a Party follows a circular plot. Unlike some of the others, the logical leaps between steps are focused on the goal of the slumber party. For fans of the previous books the characters from them are all invited. For any parent who has had to plan a birthday party, this book is extra funny. It captures perfectly the chaos that goes into the planning the way in which excited children jump from idea to idea regardless of feasibility or practicality. Of the books in the series I've read, If You Give a Pig a Party and If You Give a Cat a Cupcake are my favorites. There's a new one out this year, If You Give a Bear a Brownie. Other books in the series * If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (1985) * If You Give a Moose a Muffin (1991) * If You Give a Pig a Pancake (1998) * The Best Mouse Cookie (1999) * If You Take a Mouse to the Movies (2000) * If You Take a Mouse to School (2002) * If You Give a Pig a Party (2005) * Merry Christmas Mouse (2007) * Time for School Mouse (2008) * If You Give a Cat a Cupcake (2008) * If You Give a Bear a Brownie (2009)
If You Give a Pig a Pancake is the third in series of books by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond. The book follows a series of what-ifs from the giving a hungry pig a pancake through all the consequences of such a gift. Each one is sillier than the next. Highlights include a bubble bath, posing for silly photos and building a tree house. When I was preparing to review Felicia Bond's solo book The Halloween Play, I read a number of reviews that commented on how much her technique has improved since that book. I'm going to break with the pack and say that I think her illustrations were just as good then as they are in these later books. My only complaint is with the pig. I know pigs are in fact hairy but he looks positively furry in this book. All those little fluffy lines are a distraction.
