Our Principal Promised to Kiss a Pig
Grade 1-4–When the students in Ms. Juliet's school read more than 10,000 books, she must fulfill her promise to kiss a pig. The young narrator offers her porcine pet, Hamlet, who isn't looking forward to smooching a stranger. Displayed in thought balloons over Hamlet's head are Shakespeare-inspired verses that express his initial dismay and eventual change of heart. These quotes, along with the lines that inspired them and a brief biography of the Bard, are listed at the end of the book. The conversational text is prone to excessive plot exposition, giving the story a very slow pace. The authors fail to impart a feeling of excitement as the big day draws near, so the climax falls flat. DiRocco's colorful watercolor illustrations highlight the most important moments and help bring the tale to life. His depiction of Hamlet dressed in 17th-century attire adds to the mood. Attempting to introduce children to Shakespeare in the guise of a verse-quoting pig is a novel idea. Unfortunately, this is a mediocre story that is hindered rather than helped by its allusions to the playwright. Younger audiences won't understand the references, while older readers will be put off by the book's format. For a better introduction, try Marcia Williams'sTales from Shakespeare(Candlewick, 1998).–Catherine Callegari, San Antonio Public Library, TXCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.