MOGO THE THIRD WARTHOG

Napoli, known for her fairy-tale retellings, has reworked “The Three Little Pigs” into a tale of life on the African savanna. Mogo is the runt of his litter and always the last in line. His brothers tease Mogo, calling him “scaredy,” but the cautious piggy knows many predators target the last one, so he pays close attention to every sound and smell. Mogo loves living with his family and being part of a much larger group of warthogs called a sounder. When his mother announces she is expecting another litter, it is time for Mogo and his brothers to live on their own, launching the familiar plot on its way. Mogo’s first-person narration will keep young readers making the transition into chapter books on edge as he relates the joys and very real dangers of life on the savanna. His unlikely friendship with a young baboon and a group of Kipling-esque giraffes helps Mogo discover he has what it takes to survive—for now. Judge’s simple black-and-white drawings sprinkled throughout enhance the text. (Fantasy. 7-10)