Some of My Best Friends Are Polka-Dot Pigs

Birds of a feather flock together? Not in Sara Anderson's exuberant, rhyming picture book Some of My Best Friends Are Polka-Dot Pigs. In fact, some of her best friends are whirligigs and moppety maisies or happen to eat purple daisies in this jazzy celebration of diversity and friendship.

Anderson's bold, colorful, two-dimensional illustrations--reminiscent of Varnette P. Honeywood's work in the "Little Bill" books--are lively and expressive. Simple images at the beginning of the book (the polka-dot pigs and the whirligig, for example) gather, intermingle, and dance together in double-page spreads that echo the cumulative rhyme. As the finale nears we are treated to a visual and verbal extravaganza: "Sticky feet can't be neat / marching ants climb your pants / dress in red stay in bed / porcupine sky / many hats wacky bats / Can't fly don't cry / polka polka polka-dot / whirly purple maisie." This jaunty, rhythmic read-aloud makes us want to twirl around and shout! (And have pineapple feet.) (Preschool to age 6) --Karin Snelson