Anne Marie Pace

Pigloo the pig imagines himself as an explorer in this charming picture-book from American author Anne Marie Pace and British illustrator Lorna Hussey. Determined to get to the North Pole, he waits eagerly for the snow to start, taking his parents' good-humored comments and his older sister Paisley's teasing in his stride. In the end however, Paisley proves more supportive than expected, helping Pigloo to get to his destination, and showing him the "short" way home...

A sweet tale of sibling show more rivalry and then sibling cooperation, Pigloo is also a celebration of the important role that imaginative games play in a young child's life. The family dynamic here is believable - the parents' tolerant amusement, the sister's initial mocking - but also heartwarming, full of love and support. I liked the way that Pigloo interprets the comments of those around him in Pace's narrative, always relating things back to his important role as an explorer. I also liked the artwork - done in watercolor and graphite - which captures the joy of Pigloo's outdoor play, and the range of emotional states through which he passes. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books about imaginative play, outdoor games in winter, and/or sibling relations between younger children. show less

Absolutely adorable! Little Vampirina goes to ballet and tries to fit in but the other girls are scared of her. She is ready to give up but her family tells her to stay strong and practice, practice, practice. Loved it and the graphics.

Pale, black-clad Vampirina dreams of being a dancer, so she finds an evening class and does her best. It doesn't go great at first, but "Whatever happens, don't be discouraged. The road to ballerinadom can be bumpy, but it doesn't matter if you take one giant leap or many tiny steps, as long as you are moving toward your goal." Vampirina practices and improves, becoming a real ballerina. The illustrations provide a huge helping of humor.

I love the idea of a normal vampire family helping their young vampirina daughter become a ballerina. The illustrations interact with the text quite well. The story includes the proper French ballet terms, and traditions of ballet itself. What an inspiring story for a young person (or vampire) learning to do something new!