Parents in the Pigpen, Pigs in the Tub ANNOTATION
Tired of their usual routine, the farm animals insist on moving into the house, so the family decides to move into the barn, but eventually everyone tires of this new arrangement.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Bossy the cow is tired of living in the barn. So she moves into the house, along with the chickens, who demand cornflakes for breakfast. The sheep are not far behind. When the pigs and ducks cause a flood in the bathroom, the story literally overflows with madcap mayhem. "The rollicking tale combines some of Ehrlich's best storytelling with Kellogg's hilarious illustrations -- together forming an irresistible package."-- The Horn Book "One of the best picture book stories in a while, brimming with fun, much of it the best kind -- unexpected." -- Booklist, starred review Amy Ehrlich has written many picture book retellings of fairy tales, and other highly acclaimed childrens books. Steven Kellogg is well known for his Pinkerton books, and his illustrations for the Jimmy's Boa books by Trinka Hakes Noble (all Dial/Puffin).
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
It's a barnyard switcharoo when the animals get a glimpse of life on the other side of the pasture gate. Laments like ``That sure looks better than the stuff they feed us'' and ``They got no flies in there neither'' prompt a bevy of beasts to move into the house and demand cornflakes and snug beds. Ehrlich and Kellogg (who previously teamed up for the Leo, Zack and Emmie beginning readers series) invest the naively accommodating family with a goofy cheerfulness that provides much of the book's humor. Pa, Ma, Willy, Billy, Millie and the girl who narrates are blithely oblivious to the household havoc being wreaked by the animals (rendered in Kellogg's characteristically cluttered watercolors). Things finally get out of hand (Ma starts snoring during the Sunday sermon, the pigs flood the house) and the humans flee to the now-vacant barn, completing the swap. Eventually, of course, all creatures yearn for the comforts of home and the groups agree to trade back. A Thanksgiving dinner, filled with extra helpings of silliness, concludes the tale with a celebration of newfound mutual respect. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)
School Library Journal
K-Gr 2-A preposterous story about farm animals that switch domiciles with their human caretakers. These creatures not only talk and walk on two legs, but they're also greedy and pushy and want all of the advantages of civilization. And so, they move into the farmhouse. Ehrlich's text begs to be read aloud in an exaggerated country twang, while Kellogg's watercolor illustrations are rambling and full of humorous details. The human parents and their brood of goofy-looking children are good-natured pushovers, and they really don't mind living outside. The pictures depict ferociously funny expressions on some of the animals-a pig brushing his teeth, sending toothpaste foam everywhere; hysterically quacking ducks; indignant sheep. After the beasts have totally trashed the house-because they are animals, after all-they invite the family to come back. The farmers gape at the disaster before them, but somehow they take it all in stride. Squeaky clean fun that's bound to get children guffawing.-Vanessa Elder, School Library Journal
BookList - Ilene Cooper
In this riotous story, little Millie forgets to close the pasture gate, and the animals troop to the house and peer in the window. Life inside looks pretty good, and Bossy the cow decides she'd like to move indoors. Pa discusses it with Ma, an easygoing sort, who says, "What's one more mouth to feed?" When the chickens see Bossy cuddled up in bed, they want to move in, too--and make that corn flakes for breakfast, not shredded wheat! Well, with the chickens ensconced inside, the sheep aren't far behind, to say nothing of the pigs, the horses, and the ducks. What's the family to do, but move into the barn? They're delighted not to have to take baths with the pigs and watch TV with the horses. At first it's fine (though the neighbors can't get over the sight of Ma and Pa in the pigpen), but eventually the family wants to go home, and the animals do, too. They make the change on Thanksgiving Day, a splendid occasion except that the animals haven't quite kept up the house as well as the family might have liked. Anyone who knows Kellogg's artwork can imagine the fun he has with this bustling, boisterous tale. Animals paw through drawers, overflow bathtubs, and get tangled in toothpaste. Despite the frenzy, every detail is right, down to the horses watching westerns on television. He's got a lot to work with, though, because Ehrlich gives him one of the best picture book texts in a while, brimming with fun, much of it the best kind--unexpected. When you stop laughing, order a couple of extra copies.
Home
