Pug Meets Pig

Pug does not need Pig in his life. Pug is happy with his routine—his home, food, important work digging and barking in the yard, and bed. So when friendly Pig pops onto the scene and obliviously disrupts Pug’s daily habits, the dog is not pleased. Will Pug pack his toys and leave, or can he learn to live with and even embrace Pig? The age-old theme of learning to accept a newcomer will resonate with children adjusting to a new sibling or witnessing an old pet adapt to a new one. The text and visuals work well together, employing understated humor. Clear, softly colored illustrations featuring the chubby title characters are appealing and accessible. A cat appears occasionally, along with a few ethnically diverse children as onlookers, and some of Pug’s toys can be spotted on multiple pages for observant children to track. The beginning endpapers show Pug enjoying his daily romp in the yard alone, and the closing endpapers present Pug taking part in similar activities along with Pig, conveying the subtle but positive message that Pug can be equally content alone or with company. This selection might be confused with Lynne Berry’s Pig and Pug picture book or Laura Marchesani and Zenaides A. Medina Jr.’s Pig and Pug juvenile reader. VERDICT This cozy story is likely to hit the spot with many preschoolers and is a great choice for beginning readers.