Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Little Oink
Illustrator: Jen Corace
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 7
Chronicle Books, 2009 ISBN: 0811866556
Little Oink was a very neat and tidy little pig. When he dug for truffles under trees he wore gloves, and when he ate in the school trough he always used a fork and knife and wore a napkin around his neck. Little Oink liked his life except when it was “mess up time.” He wanted to clean his room instead of mess it up. His parents explained that a “respectable pig” has to “make a proper mess,” and they insist that he behaves in pig like way.
As they read this delightful book children will enjoy seeing how this clever little pig finds a way to be true to himself – and keep his parents happy at the same time. Sometimes, we have to be creative to do be able to do what matters most to us. Children who have the opposite problem to the one that Little Oink has – having to clean their rooms – will have a good laugh as they read about this little pig who wants so much to be neat and tidy.
