The Big Trip
PreSchool-Grade 2--Gorbachev's amiable animal characters return, this time to discuss the perils of traveling. When Pig reveals his desire to take a big trip far away, Goat asks how he will get there. Unfortunately, for every wonderful mode of transportation that Pig suggests, Goat imagines some dire consequence. Pig could fall off a bike, get thrown by a jumpy horse, or be stuck in a dark railroad tunnel. Cars break down, plane engines fail, and ships encounter all sorts of dangers. Goat's musings reach a crescendo when he describes how Pig could end up on a deserted island and be forced to face a pirate invasion all alone. Poor Pig concludes that he should not go anywhere. Finally, Goat reveals his desire to be included by suggesting that big trips are less scary when you go with a friend. An upbeat ending and the charming pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations relieve some of the negative tension generated by the text; still, after such an overwhelming litany of potential disasters, it seems likely that Pig and Goat will just stay home.--Teri Markson, Stephen S. Wise Temple Elementary School, Los AngelesCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.