OOMPH!

A whole lot of smooching distinguishes this latest Preston Pig adventure in which he (and Mr. Wolf) go for a vacation at the beach. If during the journey to the beach “Preston was only sick twice and he only said, ‘Are we there yet?’ thirty-seven times,” when the young pig hits the beach he’s in fine form, especially when seen through the eyes of Max, a young girl pig. Preston had hurt his snout when he literally ran into Max, and she’s more than happy to kiss it better. Indeed, the running joke through the book is Max kissing Preston’s nose. The two porkers have a fine old time surfing and sailing and poking about in tidal pools, while Mr. Wolf is busy in a parallel tale, off in the wings, being clobbered by waves, falling on rocks, and getting shipwrecked. What it all amounts to is Preston’s first crush (Max seems a little too experienced for it to be her first), and the sweetness in their sorrowful parting when Preston must return home is only due to the blistering of his nose from all those kisses. A jolly cartoon atmosphere swathes the proceedings, thanks to McNaughton’s comic artwork, and readers can take a few cues from Preston, who is a real gentleman, brimming with good manners. (Picture book. 3-6)