Early Reader Review: Picnic Pigs by Derek Fridolfs and Scott Gross

Source: From Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Picnic Pigs by Derek Fridolfs and Scott Gross 

Publisher: Capstone
Publication Date:  August 1, 2021

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

As Porky and Petunia settle in for a picnic in the park, nature crashes their party. Can Porky overcome the elements in time to get some cake and eat it too? Get ready to giggle with a hilarious Looney Tunes wordless graphic novel!

Review: 

I was curious to pick this up and find out what a wordless graphic novel was. In the most obvious sense it is a graphic novel without text - and it was that. I am guess that it is an attempt to have the illustrations speak for themselves through the action scenes. 

In this wordless graphic novel, Porky and Petunia pig are off to go on a picnic and ants and other nature decide to crash the party and make it a not-so-fun experience for Porky. Petunia is pretty oblivious throughout the story which adds some comedic effect. I think for older kids this would be a fun 'read' it is like watching a cartoon without them talking and only sound effects. However, for younger kids they want to know what is happening and words are helpful sometimes.

I found that that idea of a picnic like this one - the basket and red blanket are of the past and younger readers might not appreciate the idea. I think that the book was trying to pull on the heartstrings of the adults reading to their kids more than anything for a nostolgic feeling.  Also confusing was the number of ants - we start with about three and then there seem to be swarms. I understand trying to keep some of the actions simplistic to show action but my young viewer at the time wanted to know where all the ants came from - she made a good point. 

I think that for self-suffuicent readers or picture book lovers this could be a good edition to your collection but it fell a bit short for me.