Pinkerton the pig always has to be first for everything. So when his class goes on an outing and he hears someone calling out, "Who would care for a sandwich?" well, of course Pinkerton shoves ahead so he can volunteer first. But it turns out what he's actually signed up for is not eating a sandwich, but taking care of a Sand Witch, who insists he do everything from washing her dishes to combing the copious hair on her toes. At the end Pinkerton admits that perhaps being first is not always best.
Although the moral is a little heavy-handed, the lively illustrations and cute play on "sandwich" vs. "Sand Witch" make this one fun. It would make a good opener for discussions on whether it's okay to always push to be first in line, first to receive treats, etc. In fact, a discussion would be very helpful, as the moral could leave some thinking that it's only okay not to go first if it's not advantageous to oneself. Not exactly the selfless, kind-hearted attitude the book seems as if it is trying to instill. Contains a link to a free download of the audio version, which is a nice accompaniment.
EL (K-3) -- OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Caryn
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