CRANKY PUG

The infamous Pig the Pug walks board-book readers through a range of emotions in this new installment that’s loosely tied to the rest of the series.

Blabey’s signature exaggerated style and Pig the Pug’s bug-eyed facial expressions are put to especially good use in this concept book. The first page states that “Pig the Pug has many feelings! How is he feeling today?” Readers are invited to identify Pig’s moods, from “cranky” to “EXCITED” to “sleepy.” Each page highlights the named emotion in large colored type, followed by a quote from a character on the page (usually Pig). Fans will recognize Pig’s selfishness and cheekiness in many of the quotes (“I want ALL my stuff!” “Aren’t I divine?”), some of which offer callbacks to previous books, while those new to the series will still find much humor in both Pig’s lines and his caricaturelike expressions. A mirror on the last page that asks, “How are YOU feeling?” gives readers the opportunity to put their emotional vocabulary to use immediately and perhaps make a Pig-like face themselves.

An effective stand-alone concept book and a series add-on; followers of the titular pug will be delighted.