The Old Woman and Her Pig: An Old English Tale

A traditional English cumulative tale springs merrily to life in this retelling by the illustrator of Left & Right and The Biggest Birthday Cake in the World . An old woman buys ``a pretty little pig,'' but can't get home when it refuses to go over a stile. She beseeches a dog to nip the reluctant porker, then a stick to beat the dog, a fire to burn the stick and so on, augmenting her plea until her demands are met, sending pig and owner on their way. Litzinger's sprightly text consists of strings of short, imperative sentences whose old-fashioned diction falls pleasingly on the ear: ``Stick! stick! poke dog; dog won't nip pig; piggy won't jump over the stile; and I shan't get home tonight.'' Some older children may be bothered by the lack of a clearly articulated motive--beyond the apparent wish for punishment--behind the old woman's requests. However, the tale's effective pacing, with its gradual buildup, symmetrical resolution and happy ending, renders this a very minor flaw. The unpretentious sweetness of Litzinger's pastel-toned illustrations is well suited to her simple text. Of particular note is the tale's hammy co-star, whose funny facial expressions range from a beatific smile to a worried frown. Ages 2-6. (Apr.)