Product Description

A great resource for teachers!

Read and Wonder books tell stories, take children on adventures,
and reveal how big and WONDER-full the natural world really is.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #791454 in Books
• Published on: 2001-05-01
• Released on: 2001-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Four books are now available in paperback as part of the Read and Wonder series. In All Pigs Are Beautiful by Dick King-Smith, illus. by Anita Jeram, the author of Babe the Gallant Pig imparts firsthand knowledge of his own porcine pals. Big Blue Whale by Nicola Davies, illus. by Nick Maland, takes a look at the physical characteristics, habits and habitat of "the biggest creature that has ever lived on Earth!" The features and life cycle of the eel are presented in Think of an Eel by Karen Wallace, illus. by Mike Bostock, and Martin Jenkins explores the ever-changing reptiles in Chameleons Are Cool, illus. by Sue Shields.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2-King-Smith knows both his pigs and his intended audience. Using a picture-book format, he flawlessly interlards fond reminiscences of porkers he has known with interesting facts about them that are sure to keep children absorbed. His tone is affectionate, amusing, and informative. Jeram's pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations, done in soft, earthy colors, are a warm match for the text. They emanate gentle good humor and are spaced attractively. This book succeeds splendidly in providing an appealing introduction to pigs (and to quality nonfiction) for young readers.
Kay McPherson, Central Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, GA
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
Allowing that his favorite was fierce-looking Monty, a 600- pound ``large white'' who had ten ``wives'' and was a ``pushover'' who loved to have his head scratched, the author of Babe, the Gallant Pig (1985) ruminates companionably about the habits and characters of pigs. Onetime farmer King-Smith treats his subject with perspicacity; this may be a paean to pigs, embellished with amusing ``things a pig might be saying'' (``Don't you dare pick up one of my babies''), but it's not sentimental; he even observes that a sow may accidentally squash her own young. And there's a sly subtext: pigs are wonderfully varied in size, shape, and color, and also, in many ways the author details, a lot like people--``But all pigs are beautiful.'' Jeram picks up King-Smith's affection and enthusiasm with humorously limned porcines in vigorous pen lines dappled with soft watercolors. Entertaining and genuinely informative: the best yet in the uneven new ``Read and Wonder'' series. (Picture book. 4+) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Customer Reviews

All pigs ARE beautiful!
I must admit -- I love pigs. This book is great at showing how and why pigs are so great. Here's to more pig appreciation!

Disappointed
I bought this for my toddler son despite the one negative review. We have six of the books in the Read, Listen and Wonder series and we love them. So, I thought the critique was probably too harsh and assumed the "stupid" reference would be OK in context, even if not the best choice of words. After reading the book, though, I have to agree that it's disappointing and not appropriate for young readers. I don't like the reference to a stupid person, but I dislike even more the statement that "People can be good-looking or just ordinary-looking or plain ugly." I wouldn't tolerate my son calling someone ugly and don't want him reading it in a children's book. Sorry to say that Candlewick Press let me down on this one and I've put the book out of sight. I can't say enough good things about Emperor's Egg, though!

They ARE!
This book is hillariously true! A great book for all pig lovers and all children.