Pigsty

Parents who have ever called their child's room a pigsty -- and children who have ever wished their parents would stop nagging them to clean it up -- can enjoy seeing both ideas carried to a silly extreme. As an enjoyable read-aloud, this straightforward but humorous story will delight both adults and children.

Mark Teague wisely has Wendell take responsibility for solving his own problem, though the pigs acknowledge their role in creating the mess and help clean the room. Though his conflict with his mother and the turmoil that precedes the resolution are painfully realistic, the story's silliness and the appeal of the friendly pigs prevent the lesson from becoming too obvious. Teague's colorful, eye-catching acrylic illustrations fill every other page, and an occasional two-page picture draws the reader into the messy room. Though Wendell appears stiff in some illustrations, small touches, such as a farm-truck license plate that reads "EIEIO," will delight observant children.