Piggie Pie

Grumpy witch Gritch wakes up craving Piggie Pie for breakfast, but finds her cupboard empty. She consults her cookbook and learns she needs eight plump pigs as the main ingredient. Gritch flies to Old MacDonald's Farm on her broomstick, where pigs are said to reside in abundance. Upon arrival, she encounters a series of farm animals who present unexpected challenges to her pie-making mission. The story follows Gritch's increasingly frustrated attempts to catch the pigs, who prove more resourceful than she anticipated. Her pursuit leads to multiple encounters and mishaps around the farm. This tale explores themes of cleverness versus brute force, while playing with traditional fairy tale elements and expectations. The story serves up humor alongside lessons about problem-solving and outsmarting opponents.

Readers describe Piggie Pie as a fun Halloween read that puts a twist on witch stories. Parents report their children request repeated readings and laugh at the illustrations. Readers praise: - The expressive illustrations and clever disguises - Humor that appeals to both kids and adults - Interactive elements that encourage children to spot details - Value as a read-aloud with opportunities for different voices Common criticisms: - Some find the witch character too scary for very young children - A few readers note the ending feels abrupt - Parents mention needing to explain certain references to kids Ratings: Goodreads: 4.17/5 (2,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (420+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.6/5 (25+ ratings) One teacher reviewer noted: "My first graders beg to hear this story multiple times. They love finding the hidden pigs and joining in with the witch's rhymes."

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🐷 Author Margie Palatini was inspired to write this witch tale after wondering what would happen if the witch from Hansel and Gretel got tired of gingerbread and wanted to try something new. 🧙‍♀️ The book cleverly incorporates elements from multiple fairy tales and nursery rhymes, including "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" and "Mary Had a Little Lamb." 📚 The illustrator, Howard Fine, used real farm animals as models for his artwork, visiting local farms to sketch their movements and expressions. 🐖 The main character, Gritch the Witch, specifically wants to make "Piggie Pie" from plump pigs, which is a playful twist on the traditional witch's appetite for children in fairy tales. 🌟 The book has become a popular choice for teaching prediction skills in elementary classrooms, as students can guess what clever disguises the pigs will use next to fool the witch.