Pigs Dig a Road

May 27, 2024
Diligent construction pig Rosie has conceived of an ambitious project: building a new road to connect her anthropomorphized animal community “from here to there,/ to reach the Hamshire County Fair,” writes Finison (Dozens of Doughnuts). Unfortunately, Rosie’s porcine crew, consisting of Curly, Pinky, and Stinky, is as chaotic as it is enthusiastic. Digital cartoon vignettes by Biggs (How to Bake a Universe) chronicle a cascade of comic mishaps as the trio attempts to map, dig, and lay asphalt to Rosie’s specification. Rosie must redo all the work herself—already weary from pulling an all-night planning session, she falls into a deep sleep right on the job. But Pinky saves the crew, and the road, by stepping up with a solid “Teamwork Plan” that motivates the pigs to divide tasks, labor diligently, help one another, and check their work. Just as they finish placing the final sign, a rejuvenated Rosie returns and praises their efforts: “You figured out just what to do,/ and did it well. I’m proud of you!” For collaboration and construction enthusiasts, this work about leading through empowering others (even unintentionally) underlines the capacity for anyone—or any pig—to steer. Ages 3–7. Author’s agent: Linda Epstein, Emerald City Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.

July 1, 2024
A porcine crew forges a path to teamwork. Construction crew chief Rosie creates plans for a road leading to the county fair. She explains the steps involved to the other three members of her team. From the outset, things go awry, but Rosie quickly fixes the mistakes. Next, it's time to dig, which will require the work of various large vehicles. Once more, things go amiss, and it's Rosie to the rescue again, ensuring all's well. Finally, it's time to paint the lines on the road. Rosie, thoroughly exhausted from her exertions, falls asleep. One crew member wants to wake her; another says, "That's not nice! Rosie needs a good long rest." So--just as the public is heading toward the fair--the crew members decide to follow a Teamwork Plan and complete the work themselves. They're successful, and Rosie awakens in time to congratulate them--and just in time for the public, including the chickens, to cross the road to the fair. Rosie and her crew also attend. Truck mavens will especially appreciate this humorous tale, expressed in jaunty rhymes; they'll enjoy observing favorites doing their special tasks, while others will learn about specific trucks' functions. Commendably, Finison and Biggs portray female characters--indeed, one in a supervisory position--in typically male-dominated jobs. Biggs' thick-lined, digital illustrations of expressive, industrious pigs are comically lively; onomatopoeic words are occasionally incorporated into the artwork. A cheery tale with a much-needed message: The road to success is predicated on collaboration. (Picture book. 5-8)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 15, 2024
Preschool-Grade 2 A team of cute pigs (Curly, Pinkie, and Stinky, led by Rosie) must build a road "from here to there" so that animals can reach the upcoming Hamshire County Fair. Succinct, rhyming verses, perfect for reading out loud, take readers on a rubble-rousing adventure as the pigs get building. Rosie draws the plans and organizes the construction project. As the porcine crew starts to work, they make mistakes at every turn. Exhausted from fixing all the errors, Rosie can't help but fall asleep. How will the road be built without her direction? The only way to finish is for Pinkie, Curly, and Stinky to work together by following Rosie's plans. The humorous, expressive comic-style art, drawn with muted colors in Procreate on an iPad, illustrates the piggies in motion, setting their antics against white backgrounds. Enjoyably abuzz with slapstick chaos, Biggs' illustrations do the text's many action words justice. A buoyant story about teamwork, sure to entertain and resonate with young readers. Pair with Judy Sue Goodwin Sturges' Construction Kitties (2013) for more construction cuteness.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2024
Hardhat-wearing pigs hurriedly build a road to reach the county fair. While Rosie stays up all night and "plans," "outlines," and "calculates," her peers -- Curly, Pinky, and Stinky -- sleep. At work, the pigs follow a predictable pattern. Rosie directs; the crew messes up; Rosie fixes the problem. When the trio stakes the road incorrectly, for example, Rosie "checks the GPS / and straightens out / their crooked mess." When their load of dirt and rocks misses the dump truck, "Rosie shows them how it's done." And so it goes. Until...poor Rosie needs a nap. Thankfully, Finison doesn't just give Rosie a leadership role in a male-dominated field. Sure, she casts Rosie as a smart, problem-solving construction worker. But when Rosie needs a break, the author gives her one -- and the crew works together to finish the job. Biggs's detailed, motion-filled scenes will delight building enthusiasts. Compositionally, the art also supports the text's theme of collaboration. Early on, Biggs offsets Rosie-in-charge from the others, framed or separated by the gutter, while in later more cooperative scenes, the four pigs occupy the same picture space. And, like any good construction story, this one's packed with opportunities to spot favorite vehicles. Shelley Isaacson

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2024
Hardhat-wearing pigs hurriedly build a road to reach the county fair. While Rosie stays up all night and "plans," "outlines," and "calculates," her peers -- Curly, Pinky, and Stinky -- sleep. At work, the pigs follow a predictable pattern. Rosie directs; the crew messes up; Rosie fixes the problem. When the trio stakes the road incorrectly, for example, Rosie "checks the GPS / and straightens out / their crooked mess." When their load of dirt and rocks misses the dump truck, "Rosie shows them how it's done." And so it goes. Until...poor Rosie needs a nap. Thankfully, Finison doesn't just give Rosie a leadership role in a male-dominated field. Sure, she casts Rosie as a smart, problem-solving construction worker. But when Rosie needs a break, the author gives her one -- and the crew works together to finish the job. Biggs's detailed, motion-filled scenes will delight building enthusiasts. Compositionally, the art also supports the text's theme of collaboration. Early on, Biggs offsets Rosie-in-charge from the others, framed or separated by the gutter, while in later more cooperative scenes, the four pigs occupy the same picture space. And, like any good construction story, this one's packed with opportunities to spot favorite vehicles.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)