Herr Ringelschwanz will Picknick machen

by Keiko Kasza

The author of "The Wolf's Chicken Stew" sends the message of being true to oneself in this charming story about Mr. Pig, who finally musters up enough courage to ask Miss Pig for a picnic. Illustrations.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Storytime, Humor, Friendship, Pre K

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Keiko was born on a small island in the Inland Sea of Japan. She grew up in a typical Japanese extended family with her parents, two brothers, and grandparents. Uncles, aunts, and cousins also lived nearby. She came to the United States in 1973 to continue her education, and in 1976 she graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in graphic arts from California State University at Northridge.
While working as a graphic designer, Keiko read Leo Lionni’s masterful work, Frederick, and she became interested in picture books. She began experimenting with picture books in her free time. Her first book was published in 1981 in Japan and thereafter she continued to publish in her native language. The Wolf’s Chicken Stew, a 1987 ALA notable book and the winner of the 1989 Kentucky Bluegrass Award, was her first work to be published in the United States. She has now published 22 books and her work is translated into 16 languages.

Keiko compares the process of creating a book to acting on stage under the lights: “I become the character that I’m working on at that moment. I pretend that I’m a bird looking for a mother, or a pig trying to impress his girlfriend. When I’m acting, I’m a child myself.” Her ambition is not to create a hundred books but to create one really good book that will be kept on the bookshelves for generations (although a hundred good books would be even better, of course!)

Keiko Kasza lives in Bloomington, Indiana with her husband, a professor of Japanese politics at Indiana University, and they have two sons.

Reviews

[Hypatia's Dream · Rating 5 out of 5]

Datos Técnicos

Título: El día de campo de Don Chancho
Autor: Keiko Kasza
Ilustración: Keiko Kasza
Clasificación: Fábula infantil
Edad: +3 años

Don Chancho desea invitar a la srita. Cerda a un picnic, con cantaste en mano y muy presentable va camino a verla, sin esperarlo va encontrando a sus conocidos y amigos animales quienes le sugieren más detalles para verse irresistible para la señorita, el problema surge cuando llega a ella y este se encuentra irreconocible por todos los consejos que siguió. Don Chancho tiene que ver la manera de solucionarlo.

Este cuento será útil para el diálogo del valor de la autoestima, invita a reflexionar sobre las apariencias físicas y su influencia en las relaciones interpersonales. Resaltando la importancia de la generosidad y la disposición para ayudar a los demás.

Invito a leerlo, lo encuentras accesible en Facebook para poder disfrutar de este bello cuento que también muestra unas muy trabajadas ilustraciones por el autor, con personajes que a los niños gustarán.

[Veronica Molina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tierno, divertido, incluye la temática de querer ser distinto al resto pero que te valoren por como eres. Me hace pensar en las personas que se maquillan o "producen" demasiado para algunos eventos; pasa mucho en la vida real.

[Shauna Ruske · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been our family's favorite picture book for the last decade. It has a sweet message.

[Trinidad Prieto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este debe ser uno de los libros infantiles mas lindos y mejor ilustrados que he visto. El diseño de los personajes parece ser hecho con acuarelas, la técnica de un pincel muy delicado con las líneas trazadas una a una y sus respectivos colores.
Los personajes, al ser animales, le dan un toque de ternura a la historia que hace muy agradable la lectura y su seguimiento a la hora de preguntarnos "¿qué pasará ahora?".
El personaje principal "Don Chancho" está representado como el clásico cerdito rosado y regordete, una característica importante ya que lo hace atractivo a la vista.
Pensando que es un libro para niños de no mas de 7 años, una dificultad que podrían tener a la hora de leer, son algunas palabras complejas para su edad (esto suponiendo que realizarán una lectura autónoma). Por ejemplo "esmero y audaz", quizás son términos que habrán escuchado pero no su significado, por lo tanto, no sabrían la función de la palabra en el texto.
Por otro lado en la ultima página del cuento se puede ver el uso del modismo "-no hizo ni pío-". Para un publico de edad mas avanzada, los libros que incluyen este tipo de referencias son muy dinámicos e interesantes. Pero aquí sucedería lo mismo que con las palabras que desconocen, no les haría sentido (ya que para ellos los pájaros si hacen ese sonido -onomatopeya-).
Es definitivamente un libro que yo recomendaría y no sólo a niños pequeños, ya que yo con casi 20 años disfruté leerlo, tanto por sus imágenes y por lo que te deja el contenido.

[Anna Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Pig’s Picnic shares a great message with young readers to be true to yourself and to be who you are. We see Mr. Pig who is going to ask Miss Pig on a picnic. To impress Miss Pig, Mr. Pig barrows a tail from Fox, hair from Lion, and stripes from Zebra. However, when Miss Pig sees this she does not even recognize Mr. Pig.

The Illustrations in this book are beautiful and show Mr. Pig’s journey to go on a picnic with Miss Pig. One of my favorite illustrations is when Mr. Pig is borrowing stripes from Zebra, we see Zebra unwinding them off of himself and pig wrapping himself in the stripes, I felt this was a fun way to represent the stripes going from Zebra to Mr. Pig. We find that Miss Pig likes Mr. Pig for who he is. This was not my favorite book, but is shows a message for young readers to be who you are, and you do not have to change yourself for anyone.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

To Thine own self be true.
Mr. Pig wants to be the best that he can be so Miss Pig will accept an invitation to join him for a picnic. Each friend that he meets on the way to Miss Pig's house graciously offers him the best part of themselves so that he will impress Miss Pig. Fox gives him his luxurious tail, Lion offers his glorious mane, and Zebra his flamboyant stripes. But when Miss Pig answers the door, she sees only a monster not her wonderful Mr. Pig. Mr Pig returns all his borrowed parts and is greeted by a glad Miss Pig who likes him just the way he is.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ostensibly this is a story about being true to yourself, but that has to involve telling the truth to your friends. Mr. Pig doesn't tell Miss Pig who the monster that showed up at her door was with the lion mane, zebra stripes, and fox tail.

[Liván · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comienza febrero con una instancia de cuenta-cuentos junto a la playa. Mi amiga Giannina nos lee este libro y reímos un montón. Un tierno cuento sobre la autenticidad y las ganas de ser algo más, alguien más. Un cuento perfecto para leer a los niños.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great lesson!

[Adric Rangel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me encantó sus ilustraciones y la historia está genial para niños pequeños

[Vicky Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chistoso pa mis niños 4/5

[Menia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cine🚬

[Hthr · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Pigs' Picnic is a cute little book about Mr. Pig, who wants to ask Miss Pig to join him on a picnic, but is worried that she won't like him just the way he is. He ends up borrowing a fox's tail, a lion's hair, and a zebra's stripes, but when he reaches Miss Pig's house she doesn't recognize him. Mr. Pig returns all the borrowed accessories and returns to her home, where Miss Pig is happy and relieved to see him.

This was a cute little story for preschoolers to early elementary-aged children about liking yourself the way you are, and about the importance of others liking you just the way you are, not because of the clothes you wear or the things you have.

We would borrow this from the library again!

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Keiko Kasza's work! I used the Spanish version of The Pigs' Picnic for a Spanish story time program focusing on pigs. The kids and parents loved this story! I told it using felt pieces that were purchased by the library as a book prop.

In this humorous tale, children will learn about self-esteem and being comfortable in their own skin by Mr. Pig's experience being something he is not. When Mr. Pig's friends find out Mr. Pig is going to invite Miss Pig on a picnic, they all suggest he wear one of their own features--Zebra's stripes, Fox's tail, and Lion's mane. Miss Pig is horrified by the "monster" she finds at her door. Without a word, he ditches his "threads" and comes back to her house, welcomed with open arms.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminded me of what magic sharing a picture book with children can be. When I read it to myself, I thought, "Oh, this is a cute, funny little story about a pig going on a picnic and being silly along the way." When I read it in story time, I had a room full of children who were alternately laughing and enthralled. They LOVED this book--a story for a picnic themed story time. The pig putting on the fox's tail, the lion's mane, and the zebra's stripes was just so completely amusing--it brought the house down. So, I definitely recommend reading this story with preschoolers!

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kasza's books tend to have charming stories and gentle illustrations. This is another example of that. Mr. Pig gets some silly advice from his friends as he attempts to impress Miss Pig, when he should just try to be himself.

The art isn't the most impressive thing ever, but in this context, it works.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

The animals that Mr. Pig encounters on his way to take Miss Pig out on a picnic are generous enough to share their physical attributes with him, like a fox tail and zebra stripes. He looks pretty outrageous at the end. How do you think Miss Pig responds when she sees him?

Good for toddlers and preschoolers.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trying to look his best for his picnic with Miss Pig results in a absurdity of parts and pieces of other animals. In the end, Pig realizes that being yourself is the best you can be.

Used for "Cheep, Oink, and Moo: Chicken, Pork, and Beef" storytime-April, 2010.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little story about being yourself. Mr. Pig who wants to look his best when asking Miss Pig out on a picnic and take some ill-advised advice from some handsome animals along the way. Bump up the pastel, smaller sized illustrations with a flannel/felt story when sharing in storytime.

[Sydney McClure · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a funny little story about a pig taking his friends' advice, but it doesn't woo Miss Pig. Younger kids will enjoy the goofiness of Mr.Pig. This could be a teaching moral about listening to our friends' advice.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the message of this book!

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! Complete with opportunities to wear funny props. :) A funny book about accepting yourself. I also love the book "My Lucky Day" by the same author.

[Edna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr Pig wants to ask Miss Pig to join him for a picnic but unfortunately he listens to his friends advice about what would really impress a woman.

[N · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a short but sweet tale in which Mr. Pig learns that the best way to woo someone is the be yourself.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me laugh so hard I cried.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this one in French "Le Pique-nique des cochons" and found it packed full of inspiration and comedy. Pretty good for a tiny, tiny book!

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

L recommended this book from reading it in her kindergarten class, and it was good! Love the illustrations - especially the one of the pig "all decked out" in his borrowed things.

[Katia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uno de mis libros infantiles favoritos! Jamás lo olvidé, duré más de 10 años sin leerlo y aún podía recordar cada página!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming little story about friendship and being true to oneself. Great illustrations, too!

[Justsofica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me dio risa el libro taba entretenido