PIGS AT A PARTY

A birthday board book wrapped up with a big, pink polka-dot bow.

Embedded magnets seal with a satisfying click when the bow wraps around the lower half of the book. Within, the titular pigs act as stand-ins for exceedingly well-behaved children. They wear clothes; one has green-rimmed glasses; one has pigtails. Their only porcine features are their pointy ears, pink hides, and snouts. The other partygoers are an assortment of cartoon animals, with Bunny as the guest of honor. Rhyming text describes the party preparations (dressing in party clothes, wrapping presents) and party etiquette: “Three polite piggies greet each friend with care, / and no one plays rough at musical chairs.” When, inevitably, green punch is spilled, “cleaning up is a breeze.” Games are played; they dance, sing “Happy Birthday, dear Bunny” and then, “of course, eat cake!” The bright illustrations add details (pizza and pin the tail on the donkey) not mentioned in the text. Balloons and confetti on almost every page evoke a festive party atmosphere. The book is useful preparation for very young children who may need to know what to expect at a birthday party, or it can also be used to start conversations about party protocol.

Instructive but not preachy—a good model of polite manners and appropriate behavior.