The Antidote to a Heatwave

I know Poppleton in Winter doesn't seem a likely title for a book to read in April, but we've been experiencing a bit of a heat wave (90 degree temps) here the last few days and a book about icicles and sleigh riding enjoyed by the world's second best pig- there's no topping Wilbur- has proved a great release from the heat. If you are not familiar with the Poppleton books written by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Mark Teague, I'm sorry for you. They are delightful books about a sincere and sweet pig named Poppleton humorously going through everyday experiences. He has great neighbors/friends including Cherry Sue a llama (or alpaca?), Fillmore a goat, and Hudson a mouse. They all show up in this easy to read three chapter book. In this installment, Poppleton befriends a finch after an incident involving icicles, gets very creative as many of us do during the long winter months, and enjoys a midnight sleigh ride with friends. Poppleton in Winter put a smile on Ethan's face as we read it together this week, and I do believe it lowered the temperature in the room by a few degrees. I always find books about this gentle pig make great gifts for preschoolers through first graders. Both parents and kids seem to enjoy them.