What This Story Needs Is a Hush and a Shush (Pig in a Wig Series)

by Emma J. Virjan, Emma J. Virjan (Illustrator)

Overview

Join Pig in another fun read-aloud adventure on the farm and find out if she'll ever catch some ZZZs!

What this bedtime needs
is a pig in a wig
brushing her teeth,
combing her hair,
and getting ready for bed
with her pink teddy bear.

But with a honk, a quack, a moo, and more, it turns out what this bedtime really needs is a quieter place to sleep!

The "What This Story Needs..." books are bright and lively and inspire giggles. "A story with echoes of Seuss and Willems," School Library Journal said in a starred review of What This Story Needs Is a Hush and a Shush.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062415288
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	01/26/2016
Series:	Pig in a Wig Series
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD300L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Emma J. Virján was born under an Aries moon on a Wednesday, her dad’s bowling night. She loves to draw and work in her garden, and she often lets her dog sleep on the couch. She makes her home in Austin, Texas, where she spends her days as an illustrator and graphic designer. Unlike Pig, Emma has never worn a wig, but she is thinking of buying one—a red one, of course. Visit her at \ www.emmavirjan.com.

Emma J. Virján was born under an Aries moon on a Wednesday, her dad’s bowling night. She loves to draw and work in her garden, and she often lets her dog sleep on the couch. She makes her home in Austin, Texas, where she spends her days as an illustrator and graphic designer. Unlike Pig, Emma has never worn a wig, but she is thinking of buying one—a red one, of course. Visit her at \ www.emmavirjan.com.

Editorial Reviews

11/02/2015
In this bedtime-themed companion to What This Story Needs Is a Pig in a Wig, Virján’s scarlet-bouffanted pig is trying to go to sleep but, as in the previous book, she’s promptly joined by a slew of animals: “This bedtime also needs a bark, a quack, a honk, a coo,/ a ribbit, a meow, a neigh, and a moo,” the not-so-helpful narrator informs her. Virján’s bright illustrations, outlined in black, telegraph the pig’s annoyance and the other animals’ innocent cheerfulness as they pile into her bed (the horse, having planned ahead, even has a sleep mask). It’s good-natured rhyming fun that eventually has the pig finding a quiet night’s sleep somewhere unexpected. Ages 4–8. Agent: Edite Kroll, Edite Kroll Literary Agency. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

In a story with the echoes of Seuss and Willems, Virjan offers a very funny lesson about the unreliability of narrators.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A boatload of giggles will keep the reader returning for more easy-to-read fun.” — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2015-09-16
Virján's porcine protagonist is back in another rollicking, rhyming bedtime book (What This Story Needs Is a Pig in a Wig, 2015). This big-haired pig just wants some shut-eye. She knows the routine: tub, brushed teeth, combed hair, clean sheets, and a stuffed animal. All the other farm animals seem ready to retire too, but they come with an assortment of onomatopoeic orchestrations: quack, honk, bark, coo, ribbit, meow, neigh, moo, cluck, hiss, baa, and peep! Soon the pig is smothered by farm friends settling down in bed with her, making a lot of noise. Saturated digital illustrations are funny and easy to read, especially when the sounds are set in display type next to the corresponding animals. While "neigh" might be hard to decode for some new readers, the placement of that word right next to the horse's open mouth makes it a snap. Each animal's eyes reflect the happiness it feels at being in the room with all its friends, but readers will be drawn to the pig, whose eyes look exhausted, complete with bags under them. "Be quiet. Keep mum. Pipe down and HUSH! What this bedtime needs is a SHUSH!" With these words, the stern swine sends this menagerie packing. Easy words, a funny premise, and droll illustrations add up to a book that will satisfy, even after many readings. The ending, complete with a change of sleeping venue, will bring a chuckle to lap listeners and new readers alike. Zzzzzzzz. (Early reader. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews