Under a Pig Tree: A History of the Noble Fruit (A Mixed-Up Book) - Hardcover

Palatini, Margie

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1419714880 ISBN 13: 9781419714887

Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2015

Synopsis

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.

About this title

About the Author:

Margie Palatini is the author of many outrageously funny books for children, including Piggie Pie!, illustrated by Howard Fine, and Moosetache, illustrated by Henry Cole. She lives with her family in New Jersey.
Chuck Groenink is a Dutch artist who has illustrated several children’s books in Europe and the United States. He currently lives in Syracuse, New York, with his wife.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 2–4—The conceit of this book is that the author wrote all about figs, but her editor substituted the word pigs instead. The narrative consists of a story with a series of mistakes made by the editor with notes and frustrated asides made by the author. The tale begins with the history of figs and ends with recipes containing figs, all the while looking like a book about pigs. The conceit is humorous for a page or two but soon becomes tiresome. The story seems thin and the layout makes it challenging to read to multiple children. The illustrations are charming, with pigs tumbling across the pages and nesting in trees, but the illustrations cannot overcome the weak text. The intended audience is unclear. The illustrations would appeal to a primary-age child, but the meaning and humor are targeted at the third-grade level. Younger children might not understand the relationship between the editor and the author, as well as the editing process. VERDICT An additional purchase only.—Mary Hazelton, formerly at Warren & Waldoboro Elementary Schools, ME

About this edition

• Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1419714880
• ISBN 13: 9781419714887
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Groenink Chuck