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Summary
Summary
Little Pig has trouble keeping up with his older--and bigger--brothers and sisters. When they get out Grandpa's old marching-band instruments, Little Pig is too little to play any of them. But when the disorganized band has a pig-pile mishap, Little Pig has a BIG idea: They could use a leader.
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
Pre-S-Gr 2-David Hyde Costello's humorous story (Charlesbridge, 2011) about Little Pig who is too small to play any of the marching band instruments stored in a box at Grandpa's house. Whenever Little Pig asks his siblings a question, it is comically misheard. For example, when he asks if there are any piccolos, the response is "There's a jar in the fridge behind the olives." Finally, Little Pig realizes that the rag-tag group needs a little organization, so he finds a whistle and gets them lined up and marching in step. Costello's clever asides come to life via Emily Eiden's terrific narration. The "Little Pig March," composed by Rory Young and Arnie Cardillo, is wonderful and all the music and sound effects add to the meaning and enjoyment of the text. Costello's illustrations are spot-on! Pair this with Mary Raynor's Garth Pig Steals the Show (Dutton, 1993), A Pig Parade Is a Terrible Idea (S & S, 2010) by Michael Ian Black, and the DVD version of the tale (SLJ, Sept. 2012) from Nutmeg Media. This delightful production will be enjoyed by students and teachers and might even inspire them to organize a class parade.-Lonna Pierce, MacArthur Elementary School, Binghamton, NY (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
"Sometimes Little Pig didn't like being little, or even being called Little Pig," writes Costello, as his diminutive hero, taking up what readers can assume is his usual position at the distant end of a family procession, vainly attempts to remind his oblivious relations: "My name is Jacob!" Things only get worse when the family puts together an impromptu band from Grandpa's collection of instruments: when Little Pig asks whether there's something smaller to play, like a piccolo, an elder cheerfully remarks, "There's a jar in the fridge, behind the olives." But the ensemble gives Little Pig his opening when they prove utterly unable to coordinate their movements: seeing them colliding and collapsed in a pig pile on the floor, Little Pig "knew what the problem was-the band needed a leader!" Costello (I Can Help) isn't pioneering new ground with this story of how a family's littlest member asserts his competence, but the combination of lovely and understated text, sly watercolors, and a protagonist who knows in his heart that he's right make the premise feel fresh and funny. Ages 4-7. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
When his older brothers and sisters get out Grandpa's marching band instruments, Little Pig, who isn't happy about his size or his nickname ("My name is Jacob!"), feels left out. He's not big enough to actually play anything, so he's stuck watching his siblings have all the fun. Costello's (I Can Help, rev. 5/10) well-paced story features a small hero who doesn't let his physical stature stop him from thinking big. The sprightly ink and watercolor illustrations match the upbeat text's tempo and include comic asides to help advance the narrative. As the sidelined Little Pig watches the mayhem ("Aren't you all supposed to be marching together?" "Shouldn't you all be playing the same thing?"), a four-pig pile-up helps him see what the band is missing: a leader. Young readers will likely recognize Little Pig's predicament and give his take-charge solution a big hand. kitty flynn (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Costello's winsome tale explores the travails of being the youngest and the littlest.When Little Pig, a.k.a. Jacob, and his brothers and sisters visit their grandpa, they break out his old marching-band instruments. Little Pig, to his dismay, discovers he's just too little to play the drum or trumpet, let alone the trombone or tuba. When his siblings can't get their playing or marching act togetherhey presto!a drum major is born, small of stature but packing a big whistle. Much of the book's amiability derives from the artwork, sure-handed watercolors that are active but not busy, with (most of) the pigs having a merry old time trooping about, tooting and pounding away, collapsing in a heap. Yet the words add a considerable measure to the pleasure. Costello has built a story under the arching narrative, a body of asides that add color commentary: "Do we have any piccolos?" asks Little Pig. "There's a jar in the fridge, behind the olives," replies his distracted sister. "A kazoo?" "Gesundheit." And when Little Pig does succeedwielding his baton, he is now Jacob in his siblings' eyeshe takes it with humility: "You can call me Little Pig."Humor lifts the story from a simple tale of woe to transcendence.(Picture book. 4-7)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
What makes pigs so cute? There's been a spate of stories about adorable porkers lately, and this makes one more. Little Pig, aka Jacob, is excited when he comes home and finds his siblings are taking out Grandpa's old instruments. Jacob wants to play, but he is too small for the drums, the trombone, and the trumpet. After watching the others march around with their instruments, he realizes nothing in the music or the movements is coordinated. Jacob knows a band leader is what's required, and he is just the piggy to take up the job. A series of amusing scenes follow, in which Jacob tries to corral his relatives and turn them into a marching band. Sprightly watercolor-and ink drawings are the draw here, as Jacob and family alternate being the stars of the scenes. Jacob's asides are as fun as the family band.--Cooper, Ilen. Copyright 2010 Booklist