Pig and Horse and the something scary

After reading in bed one night, Pig now has "something in my head, and it is scaring me." Fortunately, her good friend Horse is at the ready to help. When distractions such as bike rides and swimming don't work (though the two are adorable in goggles and water wings), Horse suggests they get Pig's feelings on the table, literally--they invite all the anxiety producers to an elaborate tea. Abbott's (Marty) winsome gouache, colored pencil, and ink art gets down to brass tacks in conveying fears made manifest: the night is a sooty swirl of brushstrokes, loneliness resembles a replicating purple blob ("sticky and thick like jam"), and the scary story Pig read the night before takes the shape of a fiercely angular blue dog. But instead of confronting these anxieties, Pig and Horse mollify and mitigate them; the night and loneliness shrink in response to eating tea goodies, and when the dog runs away in pursuit of a thrown object, Pig feels "a great weight lift from her shoulders. She felt the corners of her mouth lift, too." If the story covers well-trod picture book fodder, the protagonists are a model of supportive friendship, and there's great appeal in the idea that dealing with darker emotions doesn't require bravery as much as it does a smart plan and a good pal. Ages 4--8. Agent: Erica Rand Silverman, Stimola Literary. (Jan.)

Pig can't stop thinking about something scary. Maybe Horse can help. When Pig awakes feeling "a bit out of sorts," she seeks out her friend Horse, who is full of ideas for making her feel better, from a bike ride in the sunshine and a swim in the bay to a good laugh. When these measures fail, Horse suggests that Pig invite "whatever-it-is" to tea--after all, "teatime brings out the best manners in everyone!" Only when the two have completed preparations for the meal does Pig feel ready to share what's been weighing on her mind. As Pig opens up to Horse, the artwork portrays shadow archetypes representing Pig's repressed fears, including a black, smokelike entity, a menacing blue fox, and a sticky purple substance. Fortunately, Horse was right. Tea, cake, a supportive friend, and the willingness to face her fears prove to be the perfect remedy for Pig's perturbations. Abbott's subtly droll text and soft gouache, colored pencil--and--sumi-ink illustrations work together to produce a picture book that feels classic yet not derivative. The story deftly probes the darker aspects of the human psyche and the challenging emotions all children experience without becoming too overwhelming for young readers. Horse, with her toothy grin and expressive eyes, brings just the right amount of humor and lightness. Both animals, drawn standing upright with rosy cheeks, are appealing and accessible protagonists who evoke some of the great friendships of children's literature. Gentle and effective. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.