Publisher's Weekly Review
Peggoty, a pig who spends hours admiring herself in the duck pond, is devastated when she is teased by a quartet of lambs. "You're pink and fat, and you're baaaald, too," they scoff. Peggoty takes their insults to heart and seeks beauty tips from her animal friends, all of whom recommend fur or feathers. That night, "strange rustling and scuffling sounds came from Peggoty's corner," and the pig emerges wearing a cap of curly locks (although neither text nor illustrations explain how she constructs her hairpiece). Predictably, the plan backfires and Peggoty becomes the farm's laughingstockÄthat is, until she sees the farmer's wife cooing over a babyÄ"a pink, plump, and perfectly hairless human!" Hess (Farmyard Animals) creates a folktale ambiance with harmonious paintings of a yellow stone barn, steep grassy hills and blooming spring trees, all rendered with playful perspectives and a canny blend of realism and wit. But MacDonald's (Beware of the Bears) barnyard be-yourself plot, as long in the tooth as the old gray horse who brags about his "glossy and galloping mane," is ready for retirement. Ages 4-8. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
When Peggoty the pig overhears some lambs saying she's bald and ugly, she is devastated. She makes a wig out of straw, but this only makes the lambs laugh more. It's not until Peggoty sees a human admiring her bald infant that she's finally mollified. The bright, full-page illustrations of the farmyard animals are appealing, although the motivation for Peggoty's distress isn't fully convincing. From HORN BOOK Spring 2000, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-A unique look at learning to accept oneself and discover the beauty in being different. Peggoty is pleased with her appearance until the lambs make fun of her for being pink, fat, and bald. After further criticism from the other farm animals, she is convinced that she is ugly and wishes that she had the feathers, fur, or other distinguishing characteristics of the other barnyard creatures. Peggoty takes it upon herself to make her own mark to stand out among the other denizens, but in the end regains her self-image when she sees an adoring mother with her pink, bald baby. The pictures are bright and colorful, and the writing is smooth and captivating. Hess adeptly captures the animals' expressions, from the smug sheep and sly cat to the downcast, dejected Peggoty. The premise is far from new, but the execution is fresh and appealing.-John A. Clexton, Detroit Public Library, MI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
