Thank you to Sourcebooks for the opportunity to review this book.
In Kristi Yamaguchi’s It’s a Big World, Little Pig! Poppy is a little pig with big dreams. She has been invited to figure skate at a world competition in Paris, but she is nervous about going to a place where she doesn’t know anyone and doesn’t speak the language. With the support of her family and friends, Poppy learns that we all smile in the same language. She meets some new friends from different parts of the world on her adventure, and finds that she has more in common with them than she could ever imagine.
I have to admit that I was very excited to read and review this book because I have been a huge Kristi Yamaguchi fan since I was a child. I taped her 1992 Olympic performance off of the television (remember those days?) and watched it all the time. Kristi’s first children’s book, Dream Big, Little Pig! is excellent, so I had high hopes for this book. I settled down to read this with my 2 year old son, certain he would love it. He sat very quietly during the story, and didn’t interact with it much, so at first I thought maybe he wasn’t enjoying. Later, however, I heard him playing with his toys and calling them by the names of the characters in the book. He was basically acting out the story, using toy cars! It just goes to show that you never can tell with kids. That’s why reading to your children is so important, even from a young age. They absorb so much more than we ever realize!
I didn’t have the opportunity to read this with my preschool class, but I think they would really enjoy this book. I know my girls would love Poppy’s pretty costume and love for skating. However, I think my boys would enjoy this as well. Making friends is a very important thing for preschoolers, and this book does a great job of showing that the best way to make a friend is to be a friend. If you want to be friends with someone, start with a smile!
I recommend It’s a Big World, Little Pig! to preschool parents, especially those with little girls. Kids will love the positive, upbeat story and Tim Bowers’ bright illustrations. This would be a great birthday gift, and it’s a must if you know a child who figure skates. Kristi Yamaguchi’s encouragement to “dream big!” is one our kids need to hear.
It’s a Big World, Little Pig! is 32 pages long and is published by Sourcebooks.
I received a digital copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
