Each day leading up to the April 16 announcement of the Minnesota Book Awards, and in collaboration with community editors from the award-winning Saint Paul Almanac, we highlight one of the thirty-two finalists. Today we feature 2016 Children’s Literature finalist:
Ten Pigs by Derek Anderson
Published by Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.
Category Sponsor: Books for Africa
One very happy pig settles into a bubble bath in a bathtub that’s just the right size for him and his rubber duckie. To his dismay, a second pig with a big beach ball jumps in to join him. Number two is followed by pig number three, dressed for adventure in a snorkeling mask and flippers. The pigs keep coming. How many can possibly squeeze into one bathtub? How will pig number one ever get the others to leave? When a wolf enters the scene, everything changes in this tale with a clever, suspenseful twist… You’ll laugh out loud at this hysterical counting bath adventure with a squeaky clean twist.
Author Bio:
Derek Anderson is the New York Times bestselling artist of more than twenty books for children, six of which he wrote. His published works include the Little Quack books, written by Lauren Thompson; the Hot Rod Hamster series, written by Cynthia Lord; and his own Gladys Goes Out to Lunch. Derek is especially proud of his book Ten Pigs: An Epic Bath Adventure. It wasn’t easy to corral ten wiggly pigs into a crowded bathtub with their snorkels, sandcastles and surfboards. Ten Pigs was selected by Once Upon a Reader, a literacy program in the state of Minnesota, to be their statewide title for 2016. His newest book, Ten Hungry Pigs, a sequel to Ten Pigs, will be published in May 2016. You can learn more about Derek and how he works in his online journal. Anderson was born and raised in Iowa. He now lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Derek Anderson is on Twitter.
![Once Upon a Reader Trunk Show](https://thefriends.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/OUR-DerekwithGabrielaandElena-300x252.jpg)
A Once Upon a Reader Trunk Show, coming soon to a library near you!
Reviews:
“…The rhythmic flow of the book paired with the adorable illustrations will give children a new favorite book for story time.”—Besty Dailo, Family! Magazine
“Just delightful! Ten Pigs: An Epic Bath Adventure is everything a children’s book should be. It’s entertaining, fun, charming, colorful, silly and bursting with heart!”—Pamela Thompson
“Anderson’s joyous, porcine counting rhyme is bathtime (and storytime) fun. His bright-eyed, cartoon porkers, rendered in ‘ink, Photoshop and soap suds,’ are expressive, goofy and engaging. Toddlers will enjoy this, the cleanest piggy count ever.”—Kirkus Reviews
Watch:
Book Trailer
SELCO librarian Jennifer Harveland reviews Ten Pigs; An Epic Bath Adventure.
The evening features a Preface Reception with complimentary passed wine and cash bar, author meet-and-greet, book sales and signing; the Awards Ceremony with live music, celebrity presenters, artisan cheese plates and breads, complimentary wine and lemonade, with emcee Stephanie Curtis of MPR; and the Epilogue After-Party with complimentary champagne, sumptuous desserts, and additional live music. Tickets now on sale, or click here for more information.
Today’s winner: Cindy Weldon. (We’ll be in touch via email, and arrange getting the book to you!)
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