GRANNY GOMEZ & JIGSAW
by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by Scott Magoon
Granny Gomez lives in a large house out in the country. She likes her flowers, her jigsaw puzzles and having enough space for her drums and mountain-climbing gear…but sometimes she is lonely. Her friend William decrees that she needs a pet (but not just any pet). The next morning there’s a pink piglet on her porch. Granny’s not sure about a pig in the house, but to save him from the bacon farm and because he’s so cute, she decides to give it a try. Jigsaw turns out to be a great pet, but he doesn’t stay small forever. Broken back steps convince Granny something must be done. When she builds him a barn that’s just as big as her house, she’s lonely again at night. It turns out, however, that Granny Gomez is a granny with an innovative solution to every problem. Underwood’s sweet tale of loneliness and companionship is brought to pudgy, smiling life by Magoon’s watercolor-and-ink illustrations. A solid addition to any collection. (Picture book. 4-8)