PING PONG PIG

Ping Pong is a pig after a child’s own heart. While the other farm animals diligently go about their chores, Ping Pong works with diligence—and a fine measure of joyous mayhem—trying to fly. Not in a plane or balloon, but purely by trotter-power: jumping out of trees or off the barn roof and always laying waste to the hard work of the other animals. Church is able to keep Ping Pong sweet because he is also oblivious: “Ping Pong Pig was far too busy doing his own thing.” When the animals give Ping Pong a trampoline in an attempt to corral the chaos, it looks like he is about to mend his ways, using the trampoline to help around the farm. Fortunately, it’s only a blip on the radar before, once again, now trampoline-assisted, it’s bombs away. The illustrations work to convey a sense of springtime innocence: bathed in color, with sure-handed line-work that has the depth of cutouts. Hold fast to the spirit of youth, little Ping Pong; once pigs fly, what’s to stop them from driving the family car? (Picture book. 3-6)