Baby Pig Pig Talks
David McPhail, author & illustrator
David McPhail is the acclaimed author and illustrator of more than one hundred and fifty books for children. He studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and published his first book in 1972. His titles include Henry Bear's Park (Atheneum), Mole Music (Holt; a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year), and the beloved Pig Pig series.
Read more about David McPhail.
- Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Best Books for Babies 2015
Publishers Weekly, starred review
McPhail’s picture book hero Pig Pig is back—as a baby. As his mother pushes him around in his stroller, she introduces words for things they see. When she singles out a cat, “Duba” is Baby Pig Pig’s response. “Snake,” she says, pointing at one (from atop a park bench). “Hissa,” Baby Pig Pig replies. The arrival of an affectionate dog finally prompts Baby Pig Pig to say his first “real” word, “Mama.” McPhail’s watercolors exude warmth and quiet humor, and the aural sources for many of Baby Pig Pig’s words (“Dinga” for tricycle, “Quacka” for duck) hint at how the gears are turning in his young porcine brain.
Booklist
McPhail’s popular character Pig Pig appears here as a toddler, just learning his baby skills. In this board-book edition, Mama is trying to get Pig Pig to talk. She says “Mama,” and he says “bluba.” As she pushes his stroller through the park, he seems to be getting the idea. Mama’s “duck” leads to his “quacka.” But it’s not until a dog comes out of nowhere to offer a lick, that his first real word comes out, a startled “Mama!” The last spread shows baby and mama having a moment, while ducks quack, dogs woof, and taxis honk in the background. The audience probably won’t know the original books, but this one and its companion, Baby Pig Pig Walks, are pleasers with their simple text and amusing, warm ink-and-watercolor illustrations.
Board
ISBN: 978-1-58089-597-2
E-book
ISBN: 978-1-60734-740-8 EPUB
ISBN: 978-1-60734-703-3 PDF
Ages: 0-3
Page count: 14
6 x 6