Good Little Bad Little Pig

by Margaret Wise Brown, Loretta Schauer (Illustrator)

Overview

Fun and playful story by Margaret Wise Brown, best-selling author of the children's classics Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny.

Peter wants a perfect little pig for a pet. Not a bad little pig, and not a good little pig. Peter wants a good little bad little pig! So his mom sends the farmer a letter. Does Peter get what he asks for? Find out in this classic treasure from Margaret Wise Brown, author of the children's classics Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781882077472
Publisher:	WaterMark, Inc.
Publication date:	09/15/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	38 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	2 - 6 Years

About the Author

Margaret Wise Brown, cherished for her unique ability to convey a child's experience and perspective of the world, transformed the landscape of children's literature with such beloved classics as Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny. Other perennial favorites by Ms. Brown include My World; Christmas in the Barn; The Dead Bird; North, South, East, West; and Good Day, Good Night.

Date of Birth:

May 23, 1910

Date of Death:

November 13, 1952

Place of Birth:

Brooklyn, N.Y.

Place of Death:

Nice, France

Education:

B.A., Hollins College, 1932; Bank Street College of Education

Website:

http://www.margaretwisebrown.com

Editorial Reviews

Published for the first time as a standalone, this story from Brown's 1939 collection, The Fish with the Deep Sea Smile, features a boy who understands that creatures are never all good or all bad, but good and bad all at once a reassuring message for small children. When Peter tells his mother that he wants a "good little bad little pig," she admits she has never heard of such a thing, but agrees to try to find one. Yaccarino's (Unlovable) gouaches both date and update the tale, supplying Leave It to Beaver clothes for Peter's parents and kidney-shaped furniture for their living room. The characters' resemblance to playthings reinforces Peter's upbeat, positive approach. Once the pig is delivered, Peter's mother says that it is dirty and Peter's father does not like the way it runs around the house squealing. "Remember," Peter admonishes them, "this is a good little bad little pig." Peter takes charge of everything, feeding and bathing his pet by himself; he soon convinces his parents that the pig is malleable after all. "Sometimes the little pig was good and sometimes he was bad," the story ends, "but he was the very best pig any boy ever had." Peter and his barnyard pet make engaging, low-key heroes, especially in the incongruous suburban setting; younger children may well identify with the porcine hero, with its mix of angel and imp, and make this a favorite. Ages 3-7. (Sept.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 1-There is a reason Brown has name recognition-she had a way with words. Who else could take a silly little premise, a boy wants a pig, "Not too little/And not too big/Not too good/And not too bad-/The very best pig/Any boy ever had," and turn it into a sweet little story? The narrative flows naturally, it has sound effects ("Squeeee ump ump ump") and even depth-the boy is enamored with his pig despite its volatile behavior. The retro style of the illustrations is just right for this old-fashioned, simple tale. The art is sophisticated and stylized and yet exudes an innocent charm. The use of white space is masterful. Coupled with a smooth use of color, this technique helps create a clean-cut look. Interior spaces have patterned backdrops, checks, stripes, and plaids that add to the 1950s' ambience.-Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI

School Library Journal