Pig and Pug

Pig and Pug should be instant friends--they are both cute, petite, and full of energy. But Pug insists on addressing Pig as "Pug" (actually, "a pudgy Pug"), and Pig doesn't like it one bit. After some tussling, a lot of contradictory gainsaying (" 'Yes, you are, ' says Pug to Pig. 'Am not!' says Pig"), and some table-turning thanks to an encounter with a muddy hole ("Pug, the muddy Pig," declares Pig, feeling quite clever), the two seem to be on the road to friendship, "at least for now." Although Berry's (What Floats in a Moat?) repartee may remind readers of the silly arguments they have had with siblings and friends, it's not quite enough to hang a story on. Similarly, Correll's (What I Wore Today) almost totemic characters, boldly outlined and set against white space or solid colors, start out full of promise, only to quickly reveal the limitations of their expressiveness. It's closer to the beginning of a lifelong rivalry than a beautiful friendship. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio. Illustrator's agent: Sylvie Hamel, Anna Goodson Illustration Agency. (June)

PreS-K--Pig and Pug spot each other and confusion immediately arises about whether Pig is a pug and if Pug might actually be a pig. Initially excited by the sight of someone the same size and shape, the diminutive pair eventually find themselves disagreeing and taunting each other. After a time out leads to a tumble into the mud for Pug, the two apologize and become friends...but only for a moment. With a simple color palette, the digital artwork is soothing to the eyes as well as humorously appealing. The minimal text gets the emotions across by not overly explaining what's going in. Children will laugh as Pig and Pug argue. Fans of books that utilize a limited vocabulary, like Jeff Mack's Ah Ha (Chronicle, 2013) and David LaRochelle's Moo! (Bloomsbury, 2014) will delight in the silly squabbles. VERDICT A fun addition to most picture book collections.--Paige Garrison, Aurora Central Public Library, CO