This book makes me squeal with delight! It’s Little Pink Pup by Johanna Kerby and it’s my new favorite non-fiction book. Pink was the smallest of twelve new piglets. He was so tiny that he couldn’t push his way past his siblings to get to his mother, and he ended up cold and hungry in the barn. His owners brought Pink into the house in hopes that Tink can help him. Tink was a dachshund mama with babies of her own to feed. When she saw little Pink, Tink cuddled him in close and treated him like one of her own puppies. The photos of the  little brown puppies and the little pink piglet snuggling in or playing together are cute beyond words. The last photo in the book showing a healthy, full grown Pink and his teeny but proud dachshund mama makes me happier than a pig in mud. It’s such a great story, and it’s a fantastic example of how engaging well-written informational books can be. Every kid I’ve shared this book with has swooned over little Pink and his doggy foster family, and I’m wondering how many holiday wish lists in my town had “piglet” added to them (sorry, parents!) You may not be in the market to bring home a hog, but you’ll definitely want to pick up Little Pink Pup to share with your little ones.

I’m not the only one feeling the love for Little Pink Pup; it just won the 2011 Children’s Choice Book Awards for Kindergarten – 2nd grade! If you go to author Johanna Kerby’s website, you can see tons of pictures of mama Tink, not-so-little-now Pink, and more of Kerby’s farm animals. I love that this book is a true story of acceptance illustrated with photos taken by the family. Have your little ones bring in family pictures to use as writing prompts – pictures of themselves as babies, pictures of their pets, etc. all will inspire great storytelling and writing. If family photos aren’t an option, consider taking photos in your classroom or library with a digital camera and printing them off to use as story prompts.

I hope that 2012 brings you all peace, joy, and plenty of great children’s books! I am so grateful to share my favorites with you!

For more information about Little Pink Pup, visit johannakerby.com.