Pignic

Description

It's a perfect day for a pignic! A blue sky. A shady tree. A bright kite. And a full picnic basket. Four little pigs and their parents head outside to enjoy a beautiful day. With a little help from some new (and unexpected) friends, they climb trees, fly kites, and enjoy a delicious picnic. Even a sudden rain shower can't ruin their fun. Because rain means . . . MUD! Hooray! The award-winning and New York Times-bestselling Matt Phelan has created a timeless, must-have picture book for the youngest reader. Expressive watercolors; a simple, repetitive text; and gentle, satisfying twists will delight fans of Tad Hills's Duck & Goose and Anna Dewdney's Llama Llama books.

Matt Phelan is the creator of the graphic novels The Storm in the Barn (winner of a Scott O'Dell Award); Around the World; Bluffton; and the New York Times bestseller Snow White. He has been nominated for five Will Eisner Awards, including Best Writer/Artist and Best Graphic Album (for Bluffton). He is the author and illustrator of the picture books Pignic, Turtle Walk, and Druthers, and has illustrated many books for young readers, including Flora's Very Windy Day, by Jeanne Birdsall; Marilyn's Monster, by Michelle Knudsen; and The Higher Power of Lucky, winner of a Newbery Medal, by Susan Patron. He is also the author of Knights vs. Dinosaurs, Knights vs. Monsters, and Knights vs. the End (of Everything). Matt Phelan lives in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.

"With the simplest of texts and lighthearted, luminous watercolors, Phelan lets readers find parallels between their own outdoor festivities and those of his characters. ...readers will wish their own picnics could end in a similarly messy manner, and even more will adore the easygoing exuberance of Phelan's story." - Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Perfect for short attention spans. Soft, fuzzy illustrations depict cherubic, rosy-cheeked pigs having a wonderful time...the composition and pacing are superb. A stellar offering for the younger set, whether shared in storytime or read one-on-one." - School Library Journal (starred review) "Phelan creates artistic magic with warm watercolors with a pastel palette of soft blues and pinks. Generous white space surrounds each frame. Designs in spread and panels move the story forward dramatically to illustrate that it was a perfect day for a pignic." - Booklist "Minimal text and sweet, playful pencil-and-watercolor art...show Phelan's hardy porcine heroes as they valiantly set out on a worthy quest...The warm, nearly wordless story is a nice choice for young listeners...A seemingly effortless story replete with gentle humor and examples of resilience, helpfulness, and flexibility." - Kirkus Reviews "One line of text keeps things simple for young readers, but the story is also nicely unpredictable and satisfyingly dependent on the illustrations...watercolors make the sun, wind, rand, and mud feel tangible, and hoorays abound until the adorable, happily filthy little pigs return home at sunset. - The Horn Book