The Book Hog

What's not to like about a hog who loves books?? And the word play ...book hog...lol!....I love it!

I especially appreciate the references to the feel of a book in one's hands, and the smell....good old paper and ink....good, whether it's freshly printed or old and yellowed. These are aspects of book reading rarely mentioned, but a very large part of the reading experience for me personally ....and why I prefer physical books and do not read digitally.....I've tried time and time again....I just can't get into it.

Ok, enough about me.....this is children's literature....what do the children think? They love it! My youngest is absolutely obsessed with Mo Willems books...she picked up on the similar art style and feel immediately....not show more to mention the pig and elephant characters.

The color palette is a bit visually jarring....but, I think it works for this book. This cover definitely stands out among other books.

Last, but certainly not least, I love that this book promotes visiting your local library and encourages literacy.

There's a lot to love about this book. It's easy to see why it's an award winner. Well done Pizzoli!! show less

This book is award winning for two different things

CLEL's 2020 top book for "Read" theme
2020 Geisel honor book (The Geisel Award is given to the most distinguished book for beginning readers)

Admittedly, I don't love the color palate of this book. While the colors worked for "The Watermelon Seed," they don't work as much in "The Book Hog." Still, I love the story of a hog who is obsessed with books--only he can't read. But upon visiting the library....well, you can guess what happens.

For a book nerd or librarian, there are fun details to be found in the book. Like an "old time" return thing on the end papers. Or familiar book titles written in Hog's library books. It brought a smile to my face.

Recommended by Amanda G.

A book-loving pig has a secret...he doesn't know how to read. A kind librarian reads to him and teaches him how, and he loves books even more.

Somehow this pro-literacy, books-are-for-sharing message isn't cloying, possibly because of the art, which is mainly in tones of saturated salmon pink and deep seafoam green.

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Re-read February 2021 (Preschool Storytime by Karen at Winchester)

Well, I'd hoped that it would be about someone like me, who checks out a couple of dozen books a week from the library, or someone like some of my friends, who collect treasured books for their home libraries, but it's not quite either of those. It's fine, nonetheless. But the best part is the drawing of the Date Due slip on the endpaper. :heart: for nostalgia.

For those who love the physical book just as much as the story inside it.

This story filled me with absolute JOY!!! I loved how much The Book Hog really got excited about books!

A cute book about the good that librarians do.