Dream Big, Little Pig!

January 31, 2011
Olympic champion figure skater Yamaguchi centers her chipper debut children's book on a "pot-bellied, waddling, toddling pig" who aspires to be a star. Repeatedly encouraged by her mother, grandparents, and best friend, Poppy follows one outsize dream after another, unsuccessfully trying out for roles as a ballerina, singer, and supermodel. " ‘Follow your dreams!' said Poppy's mother, who loved her no matter what. ‘You go, girl!' said Poppy's grandparents, who were her biggest fans.... ‘Dancing is just not for you,' said the people in charge of the ballet." Bowers's (First Dog) pastel-hued cartoons spotlight the piglet's vivid imagination: before each audition, Poppy's glammed-up visions appear in thought balloons over her head. Though her spirits sag after her third failure, her loved ones' support keeps her inspired. Yamaguchi's message is more about determination than preternatural talent; when Poppy turns to ice skating, her persistence pays off—and a twirling, glowing Poppy draws admiring crowds—but even then she's not "perfect." Comedic flourishes, both in the artwork and in the repetition of the praise/criticism Poppy receives, keep the story from feeling overly inspirational. Ages 4–8.

February 15, 2011

For the youngest of listeners, the themes found in The Little Engine that Could continue to inspire. Former U.S. Olympic figure-skater Yamaguchi has penned a new version, complete with American Idol flash and glamour. Poppy the little pig, fully done up in all tutus, bare shoulders and high heels, reaches for stardom in talent-search competitions for ballet, singing and even modeling. The illustrations capture the disdain of the judges and competitors, especially the tall and slinky feline model's. The "people in charge" (all depicted as animals in Bowers' humorous, workmanlike illustrations) keep telling Poppy, "This is not for you." With each stumble, her glittering smile turns south. But every star needs adoring fans, who turn out in spades for this fame-driven pig. The encouragement of mother, grandparents and friend is not forgotten as Poppy ends up on an ice-skating rink in (groan-inducing) New Pork City. The white space on many of the pages may foretell the ice rink to come, with thought bubbles transforming into successful swirls on ice. Wearing sensible clothing and with the support of a friend, Poppy's determination takes hold, and that makes all the difference. A sincere thank you from Yamaguchi to her family and fans, it's lacking in both captivating plotting and illustration. As celebrity books go, though, it's a cut above many, and the prose styling is refreshingly restrained. (Picture book. 4-8)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

May 1, 2011

PreS-Gr 1-Another celebrity picture book that falls flat. Poppy wants to be a star. She tries to be a ballerina, a singer, and a model, but just isn't any good. However, she has a personal cheering section: her mom, grandparents, and best friend each have a mantra for her. Just when she is about to give up, she discovers ice skating and, after much practice, becomes good enough to have fans. "Poppy's dreams had come true!" Time passes and she decides she wants to be a pilot. Despite the skepticism of the other pilots, readers know she will try because, "She was a pig who dreamed big." The Disney-esque illustrations are packed with a variety of beguiling animal characters. Poppy is an appealing little pig, and Bowers imbues each creature with a distinctive personality. The artwork is done in a pleasantly subdued palette, and the use of single pages and spreads effectively adds a sense of motion to the story. Unfortunately, the well-meaning plot sends a mixed message. Poppy's endeavors are all to be famous in stereotypical ways. What's more, when the protagonist finally finds something she is successful at, the book doesn't end. Instead, there is the tacked-on ending about becoming a pilot. Yamaguchi's well-meaning effort doesn't live up to the many books about self-esteem that already fill library shelves.-Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2011
Preschool-G Poppy the pig dreams of being a ballerina, but she is clumsy. Mama Pig tells her to follow her dreams; her best friend, Emma, tells her to dream big. But her ballet teachers tell her to try something else. Singing? Again, not for her. Supermodel? Uh, no. So she goes back to basics and tries to figure out what she loves to do. When she and Emma go skating, suddenly Poppys heart begins to pound. She wants to be a spectacular ice-skating star. The teacher is unsure, but Poppy is certain, and though she falls and falls again, the persistent pigs dreams indeed come true. It would have been nice if the story had emphasized the pleasure that comes in simply doing the things one loves without expectation of fame. But Poppy is a spunky heroine who can inspire little ones, and the ending carries dreaming into adulthood. Bowers art captures the storys many amusing moments as well as Poppys literal ups and downs. Yamaguchis motto? Always dream.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2011
Olympic figure skater Yamaguchi tells of a pig named Poppy who "dreamed big." Although ballet dancing, singing, and modeling don't work out, Poppy, with the encouragement of her family and best friend, perseveres and becomes an ice skater. Message is foremost in this unsurprising story. Some humorous piggy wordplay ("New Pork City") and cheery pink-hued cartoon illustrations may engage readers.

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)