Pigs Ahoy!

Decked out in a Hawaiian shirt as he embarks for a cruise, the narrator of this ship-shape comedy is mighty surprised when he finds his cabin inhabited by a pajama-clad crew of pigs. And things get worse. Climbing into bed, the vacationer discovers that he's sharing a bunk: ""Fred's asleep and will not budge./ His face is smeared with chocolate fudge./ All night long, I hear him wheeze./ He hogs the blankets while I freeze."" McPhail's (Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore!) witty rhyming couplets and energetic, at times hilarious art chronicle the madcap capers of the mischievous swine, whose antics finally get them thrown off the ship. Now there's too much peace and quiet for the roommate-less fellow--until he arrives home. Repeat browsing through these pages is recommended, as it's impossible to absorb every comic visual detail the first time around. One scene--the porkers pigging out at the disgusted Captain's table--is especially riotous. Ages 3-7. (Oct.)