Small Florence: Piggy Pop Star! (review)

Small Florence is a little pig with a big dream: to be a pop star. Her older sisters, who are studying with "Jazzy-Funk Mutt, the cool singing teacher," have their own beady little eyes on that same goal, and they deride their little sis' vision, especially after she clams up when they ask to hear her sing. As her sisters practice for a singing contest, Florence practices on her own, and when the big day comes, guess who freezes and who shines in the spotlight? With its clear "Cinderella" overtones, the plot of this British import may be a little thin and well-worn, but Florence is a charming little porcine heroine; small kids (particularly younger sibs) with their own big dreams will find it easy to relate to her, especially if they're followers of the American Idol genre of reality shows. The text is satisfyingly simple and succinct, with lots of humorous asides ("Ham it up, sisters! Smooth!" exhorts the singing teacher) adding to the fun. The vibrant artwork successfully employs clever perspectives and compositions to capture the emotions and perspective of a small child with larger-than-life siblings. Delicate, sketchy pencil outlines are bolstered by the vivid colors of acrylic paint that are frequently layered and textured with noticeable brushstrokes. Florence herself is adorable in her little blue dress and yellow visor, while her big sisters sport crop-tops, miniskirts, and porcine muffin-tops. This would be a perfect addition to a pig- or music-themed storytime, a good springboard for talking about young kids' dreams for their future, or a pleasing complement to a traditional "Cinderella" reading.