Children's Book Review: Dream Big, Little Pig by Kristi Yamaguchi

Format: Hardcover
Length: 10.5 in
Width: 9.5 in

ISBN: 9781402252754

Published: February 2011  

Page Count: 32 pages

Buy Now for only $16.99 at Sourcebooks.

Summary:

Poppy the Pig (a pot-belly) has big dreams - lots of them! But following her dreams isn’t always easy, and whenever Poppy feels like it’s time to throw in the towel, her family and friends remind her to "dream big!" Whether she has two left feet as a ballerina, sings off-key or trips over her gown trying out for Supermodel Search, Poppy perseveres to ultimately find her ice skating legs after wandering through New Pork City thinking about her string of failures. She and her BFF, Emma, partake in a "pig’s day out" in the park where they stumble on an ice skating rink, and Poppy proves her persistence and discovers her talent on the ice.

This is a cute, poignant and inspiring tale that will encourage children to reach for the sky no matter the bumps in the road along the way. The illustrations by Tim Bowers are delightful.

Read an Excerpt From the Book:

"Poppy was a pig. A pot-bellied, waddling, toddling pig.  She was a pig with dreams. And she was a pig who dreamed big! She wanted to be a star. Poppy had always dreamed of being a posh prima ballerina. She tried out for Swan Lake, a famous ballet. But Poppy was not graceful. In fact, she was quite clumsy. “Follow your dreams!” said Poppy’s mother, who loved her no matter what. “You go, girl!” said Poppy’s grandparents, who were her biggest fans. “Dream big, pig!” said Poppy’s best friend, Emma, who was always there for her.
“Dancing is just not for you,” said the people in charge of the ballet. “Try something else!”

My Review:

5 stars out of 5

I was so excited to read this book to Savannah.  After hearing so much about the release of figure skating legend, Kristi Yamaguchi's first children's book, I was eagerly awaiting its arrival in the mail.  Upon receipt, both Savannah and I fell in love with the cover art.  Poppy the pig looked so cute.  I couldn't wait to see the illustrations and read the story inside.  So, I sat down with Savannah on the couch and began reading the book.  Usually it is hard to keep Savannah's attention when reading to her, but she was captivated by the illustrations.  She kept touching the pages and smiling as I read. 

This is a must have book to pick up and share with you children.  It lets children know that they can dream big and accomplish anything.  Even if they hit bumps or obstacles along the way, children will learn through this story that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to.  What I loved most about the story is that Poppy is provided with encouragement from various sources, including her parents, grandparents and best friend.  Even when Poppy struggles trying new things like ballet, skating and singing, her family and friends let her know that they believe in her and are proud of her no matter what.

I can't wait until Savannah gets older and can truly understand and appreciate this story.  This will definitely be a book that will be read and re-read for years to come.

About the Author:

Kristi Yamaguchi is an ice-skating Olympic gold medalist and world champion who knows how to make dreams come true. Through her picture book debut, Kristi inspires children of all ages to dream big!

Kristi Yamaguchi is an Olympic figure skating champion and winner of Dancing With the Stars. Her motto “Always Dream” contributed to her success on and off the ice and is one that she aspires to instill in the hearts of children. Kristi currently lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her husband and their two young daughters.

To learn more about Kristi's non-profit organization, Always Dream Foundation, click here.

About the Illustrator:

Tim Bowers has always had a love for animals. In fact, he enjoyed spending time at his grandparents’ home visiting their furry friends, which at one time, included a pet pig named Porky! Tim has illustrated more than twenty-five children’s books and received numerous awards for his delightfully sweet and silly illustrations. He often visits schools to promote literacy and to share his experience and love for illustrating children’s books. Tim Bowers lives in Ohio with his wife. Visit him at www.timbowers.com

Disclosure:  I was sent a copy of this book from Sourcebooks in order to write up an honest review.  The views above are mine and mine alone.