Pigs in Pajamas by Maggie Smith -- ESSENTIAL

Smith, Maggie Pigs in Pajamas 32 pgs. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2012. $15.99. PICTURE BOOK. This colorful book celebrates the letter P, as a bunch of pigs get ready for a pajama party. Each page contains a number of references to the letter P, both in the text and in the illustrations. For example, on one page the visiting pigs give presents to the host, including posies, parmesan cheese, and a puzzle with a peacock on it.

Not only is it fun for children to find all instances of the letter P -- especially the ones hidden in the pictures -- but it's also a cute story in and of itself, as well as a good example of how to behave at a slumber party. I expected the rhymes to be forced, but they roll off the tongue, and the alliteration makes them fun to read aloud. For added fun, the last page contains a list of many of the P-words, so children can look back through the book to search for them. All in all a very nice blend of fun and learning. Pre-K, El (K-3) -- ESSENTIAL