Under a Pig Tree: A History of the Noble Fruit (a Mixed-Up Book)

The conceit of this comic pearl is that the author's paean to figs has been ruined by a single pervasive typo. Palatini (No Nap! Yes Nap!) pours it on, scrawling blistering notes to her publisher, the hammily named Hamilton A. Cochon, throughout. "Look, mistakes happen," Cochon explains. "The 'F' looked like a 'P, ' okay?" Many of the "mistakes" deliver big laughs: "Nothing is better than a pig right off a tree. Look for the ones on low branches." Others may be tougher for readers to understand on first read, especially for kids unfamiliar with figs to begin with: "Some pigs are very popular and quite famous, such as Blanche, Celeste, Len, and Tena." Even so, Groenink's (Santa Clauses) witty, accomplished artwork vaults the book into the memorable category. With easy grace, he parodies Greek vases, Chinese porcelain, and medieval Books of Hours, while adding plenty of pig sass of his own. It's a prime choice for foodie families, who will especially appreciate recipes for "Pigs Stuffed with Blue Cheese" and the like. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt. Illustrator's agent: Stephen Barr, Writers House. (Apr.)

Gr 2-4--The conceit of this book is that the author wrote all about figs, but her editor substituted the word pigs instead. The narrative consists of a story with a series of mistakes made by the editor with notes and frustrated asides made by the author. The tale begins with the history of figs and ends with recipes containing figs, all the while looking like a book about pigs. The conceit is humorous for a page or two but soon becomes tiresome. The story seems thin and the layout makes it challenging to read to multiple children. The illustrations are charming, with pigs tumbling across the pages and nesting in trees, but the illustrations cannot overcome the weak text. The intended audience is unclear. The illustrations would appeal to a primary-age child, but the meaning and humor are targeted at the third-grade level. Younger children might not understand the relationship between the editor and the author, as well as the editing process. VERDICT An additional purchase only.--Mary Hazelton, formerly at Warren & Waldoboro Elementary Schools, ME