Under a Pig Tree
A History of the Noble Fruit (A Mixed-Up Book)
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
The publisher and author of Under a Pig Tree seem to be having communication issues. The author has written a clear, no-nonsense history of figs. But the publisher is sure she meant pigs. After all, what’s the difference between two measly letters? What results is a hilarious illustrated history of pigs, from the earliest times (“Pigs were presented as ‘medals’ to the winners of the first Olympics”) to the present day (“There is nothing better than enjoying a cup of tea or glass of milk with one of those famous Pig Newtons”). The author, needless to say, is not happy about this “little mix-up” and makes her feelings very clearly known—by scrawling all over the book!
With sticky notes from the publisher, angry scribbles from the author, wrinkles, and pages askew, Under a Pig Tree is a playful peek into a book in “midproduction” and a humorous look at the consequences of small mistakes, by industry pro Margie Palatini and up-and-coming talent Chuck Groenink.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The conceit of this comic pearl is that the author's paean to figs has been ruined by a single pervasive typo. Palatini (No Nap! Yes Nap!) pours it on, scrawling blistering notes to her publisher, the hammily named Hamilton A. Cochon, throughout. "Look, mistakes happen," Cochon explains. "The F' looked like a P,' okay?" Many of the "mistakes" deliver big laughs: "Nothing is better than a pig right off a tree. Look for the ones on low branches." Others may be tougher for readers to understand on first read, especially for kids unfamiliar with figs to begin with: "Some pigs are very popular and quite famous, such as Blanche, Celeste, Len, and Tena." Even so, Groenink's (Santa Clauses) witty, accomplished artwork vaults the book into the memorable category. With easy grace, he parodies Greek vases, Chinese porcelain, and medieval Books of Hours, while adding plenty of pig sass of his own. It's a prime choice for foodie families, who will especially appreciate recipes for "Pigs Stuffed with Blue Cheese" and the like. Ages 4 8.
