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"Elephant & Piggie: I Am Going!" by Mo Willems (Hyperion Books for Children, 9781423119906 $8.99, for ages 3 and up)
 
New Elephant & Piggie this week, and it's the most upsetting book *ever* for beginning readers! (More disturbing than the Lorax's oddly expansive mustache; more uncomfortable than Thing 1 and Thing 2 *combined.*)
 
What's the source of this disruption? It's Piggie, of course. Right in the middle of a very good day, Piggie announces to Elephant: "I am going."
 
Piggie is leaving?!
 
Elephant pleads. Elephant wheezes and squeezes. He asks very reasonable questions like, "Who will I play ping-pong with?" and "Who will I wear silly hats with?" He suggests leaving later. Much later.
 
Piggie says she is sorry, but she is going.
 
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why is she going? Elephant wants to know.
 
Because it is lunchtime. She is going to eat lunch.
 
Elephant asks Piggie, "Is it a *big* lunch?"
 
Indeed it is; big enough for two.
 
And just like that, it is a very good day again!
 
Review by Mark David Bradshaw, January 28, 2010
 
(Mo Willems fans should know: Our favorite Pigeon-maker, Piggie-spinner, and Knuffler comes out with a new character soon. Look for Cat the Cat in "Cat the Cat: Who Is That?" on February 16.)

 

 

 

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