Dreamy little Chickapig
- Michelle Fohlin
- Jul 6, 2019
- 2 min read
Happy Saturday! I'm feeling a little nostalgic today, because it's the morning of my oldest peanut's fifth birthday party--it seems like only yesterday I felt his very first kick. So to honor this sweet little guy, I'm sending out a recommendation for a charming picture book that he loves: Brian Calhoun's Little Joe Chickapig.
Reading is such an important activity in our house. It started way back when I was a curious four-year-old. Aided by my mother and educational shows like Sesame Street and The Electric Company, I taught myself to read before I had even set foot inside a classroom. And anyone who knows me can attest that I'm always writing and reading--it's not uncommon that my "currently reading list" exceeds more than five books at a time (one time it hit twenty and my husband thought I was being ridiculous).
So when I had my own kids, I made sure that daily reading was established early. My son and daughter have a wonderful selection--my mother kept all my favorites from my childhood and we've been adding to it since each of them was born.
Joe Chickapig became part of the family a few weeks ago, when I visited my son's preschool class to do a reading for them. Peanut excitedly came to Target (his favorite store!) and picked it himself. Everyone loved it! It's got heart, humor, whimsical illustrations, and a very catchy rhyme.
It's the story of Joe Chickapig (a half-chicken, half-pig hybrid), a boy with big dreams beyond the family farm. During his bedtime one night, he asks his mom how it is that people follow their hearts when the journey seems so hard. I won't spoil the adventures that make up her story, but the overall message is a heartwarming one: don't be afraid to go after what you want, no matter how big those dreams are. Or how humble.
I hope you'll check this one out and that your family will love it as much as ours does!
Happy Reading!
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