PIGLET BO IS NOT SCARED!

In this Belgian import, a porcine hero faces his fears and (sort of) triumphs over them.

Piglet Bo, a simply drawn, anthropomorphic pig, proudly proclaims that he “is not scared” of various venues, animals, and activities. From a mouse (which is fortuitously routed by a passing cat) through an empty room, a deep hole, a stand of stinging nettles, and a roller coaster, Piglet Bo finds ways to avoid entirely or, at the least, minimize each potentially frightening experience. The first-person, stream-of-consciousness text uses repetition to convey the (not so) hidden truth that he is, indeed, quite afraid after all. While this is no doubt a familiar feeling for many small children (and some adults), the overlong and occasionally awkward narration is more likely to distance listeners than to draw them in. The mixed-media illustrations may also be somewhat off-putting, as Piglet Bo appears to be transparent at times (the colors of the setting showing through his outline, in whole or in part), and varying depictions of a wild dog or wolf lurk menacingly in many of the compositions.

This closely follows an earlier adventure, Piglet Bo Can Do Anything (2015), which may explain the abruptness of both opening and closing; fans of his first outing may enjoy seeing him again so soon, but those meeting him for the first time may be unimpressed. (Picture book. 4-6)