FICTION

Beyond the Fence

by Maria GULEMETOVA
illus. by Maria Gulemetova.36p. Child's Play. Apr. 2018. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781846439315.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1—With a similar message to Peter Brown's Mr. Tiger Goes Wild and Mariana Ruiz Johnson's I Know a Bear, Gulemetova's seemingly simple story speaks to the domesticated life of a named, finely clad pig, living in a house with a boy named Thomas. One day, a chance meeting with a wild pig makes Piggy curious about the world beyond his home and his repressed existence. As his yearning fully develops, the final pages show Piggy shedding his clothes and running off outside the fence line. In soft, subdued green, gray, and brown tones, the quiet watercolor landscapes and scenes match the muted tone of the story line.
VERDICT This simply told tale promotes a potentially powerful message about self-actualization and individuality. Young readers will contemplate the meaning of freedom and the greater world beyond the backyard. Recommended for most picture book collections.
Reviewed by Brianne Colombo, Fairfield Free Public Library, NJ , Mar 01, 2018

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