Colleen M. Madden

In this series opener, Shelley (descendant of the famous Frankenstein) is dead-set on making her own terrible creation, but all her attempts go awry: everyone thinks they're adorable instead of awful. Finally, with some monster training, CowPiggy manages to scare Shelley's classmates, but then she runs away. When Shelley finds her, in a house with a kind woman and a tremendous number of rabbits, she learns that not everyone likes to be scared - a lesson she learns even better when she and CowPiggy are caught in a snowstorm, unsure when they'll be rescued. They are rescued, however, and Shelley changes her ways, and lets CowPiggy go back to her naturally cheery self ("Moink!").

Like Hoodwinked (picture book) by Arthur Howard and Castle Hangnail (middle grade fiction) by Ursula Vernon, CowPiggy combines the cute and the creepy.… (meer)

There were things I liked and things I did not like about this book. I enjoyed the rhyming text and the large vibrant illustrations. I loved seeing what the mischievous kids were getting into as well. I did not like the way the young girl demonstrated her displeasure. We all remember the kids table and being one of the youngest in my family, I sat at it much longer than I thought I should, but I had to grin and bear it. I did like that the mother explained the proper way to express the desire to sit with the adults, but she gave in right away. The young girl did behave properly and helped the adults after the meal, but that still did not excuse the behaviour. I would not want to send the message that this behaviour would be rewarded. If this book was read, then discussed about proper behaviour and manners, then it would be okay. The end talks about being thankful, but that was the only spot in the book. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via netgalley.… (meer)