When Pigs Fly. Valerie Coulman. Illustrated by Roge Girard. Montreal, PQ: Lobster Press, 2001. 32 pp., cloth, $19.95. ISBN 1-894222-36-9. Kindergarten-grade 2 / Ages 5-7. Review by Ian Stewart. *** /4

exerpt:

In a meadow near the city lived a cow named Ralph.
Ralph wanted his dad to buy him a bicycle.
"But Ralph," his dad said, "cows don't ride bikes."
"Not yet they don't," Ralph replied.

Ralph asked and asked his dad for a bike, but his dad said
no and no and no!
Finally he said, "Okay, Ralph, I'll buy you a bike...
when pigs fly."

"Cows don't ride bikes, pigs don't fly, we'll soon see about that!" that's what Ralph would say. As students read this inspiring little picture book, they will soon learn that Ralph's credo was "Where there is a will, there is a way." As a determined little cow, he wasn't about let misguided beliefs about cows and pigs get in the way of his getting a bicycle. Ralph decides to learn to fly a helicopter so he can give some pigs a ride, and then, when his father sees the pigs flying, he will have to buy Ralph the much wanted bicycle. Against all odds Ralph succeeds. He is last seen riding the new bike, and the pigs are taking flying lessons.

     Ralph will be a hero to all young children who will be delighted to learn how he solved his problem by "thinking outside the box." Teachers could certainly use this story to inspire their own students to create their own unconventional solutions in problem solving. Hopefully, more books by this Saskatchewan born writer will soon be published, and Rog‚'s comic style illustrations add to the whimsical charm of her story.

Highly Recommended.

Ian Stewart is an early years teacher in Winnipeg. When he read this book to his students, they all thought it was GREAT.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

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