Porkelia: A Pig's Tale

Humans aren't the only species with dreams of stardom, as Tucker demonstrates in this winsome pig-pink confection. Porkelia longs for—and achieves—fame as the first pig Rockette, overcoming adversity (she flogs blenders at Blender World before her big break), then buying a mansion, fighting tabloid gossip, and making a cameo on Shopping TV ("selling exercise bike/ and rings filigree"), while doing some good deeds along the way (she sends her bus, the Porkelia Express, to bring her former trough mates to see her perform). The author's carefully produced visual presentation—Porkelia looks as if Tucker's been drawing her for years—is made even more appealing by the book's small, square trim size and Tucker's nod to '60s poster artist Peter Max; her stylish spot illustrations are adorned with sparkly stars, curvy little skyscrapers, and funky, big-soled footwear. It's got a bit of a greeting-card feel to it, with upbeat humor and a nod to ideals of tolerance and acceptance ("Slowly, the others/ accepted her dream./ They stopped being/ boorish, snotty and mean!"), but the emphasis on aspiration and determination comes through clearly. Ages 4–7. (Feb.)