Piggie Pie! by Margie Palatini, Howard Fine (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

Gritch the Witch is grouchy, grumpy, and very hungry. The only thing that could make her happy is something extra special for lunch, and that is: Piggie Pie! Gritch zooms off on her broomstick to find eight plump piggies — where else? — on Old MacDonald's Farm. Cleverly disguised pigs impersonate ducks, chickens, a cow, and Old MacDonald himself, as this uproarious, quick-paced story builds to an ironically surprising conclusion. Wacky, hip, and illustrated with bold, bright paintings, "Piggie Pie" adds a new twist to an old fairy-tale scene.

Publishers Weekly

Pigs in disguise fool a witch who wants to eat them for lunch. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)

Children's Literature

The greatest read aloud that I've discovered this year is this story of Gritch, a greedy and not-so-bright witch, who's got an itch for Piggy Pie. Her problem is that she needs eight plump piggies. Walking her long green-nailed fingernails down the Yellow Pages, Gritch discovers Old MacDonald's Farm (Call Ei-ei-o). There the fun begins as pigs don disguises and, despite the taunts of the frustrated witch, refuse to show their true pink colors. Palatini threads themes of the familiar song that make for fun chorusing and Gritch's fantastic name calling is sure to prod giggles. Fine joins in the fun with playful illustrative details like the sky writing "Surrender Piggies."

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 3-A very contemporary-sounding Gritch the Witch sets out for Old MacDonald's Farm to get herself a meal of plump piggies. Alerted, however, by her skywritten ``Surrender Piggies!,'' the swine hastily don sheep, cow, and other barnyard disguises and fool her with their good acting (moos, quacks, etc.) and poker-faced denials of any pigs in residence. The still-hungry Gritch is persuaded to give up by a Big Bad Wolf (he's been unsuccessfully chasing three pigs for days), and the two go off for lunch, each picturing the other made into a sandwich. Children may not catch all the humorous references, like the yellow-pages ad for Yazgur's farm (site of the real Woodstock), but will quickly catch on to refrains in the text echoing ``Old MacDonald.'' The exuberant illustrations are colorful and action-filled. Greedy (but not too bright) witch and wolf both get what they deserve in this thoroughly enjoyable romp that turns a popular nursery song on end.-Meg Stackpole, Rye Free Reading Room, NY

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 3-Gritch the witch flies to Old MacDonald's farm for some pigs to make piggie pie.

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