The other little pigs snuggled and snoozed, but little Pig Figwort could not get to sleep! "What I need is an adventure," Pig Figwort decides, and he's off for a dive in his submarine. But no one on the ocean floor wants to have fun; the mermaids and starfish are sleepy. So are the polar bears and seals at the North Pole. The moon pigs in outer space, however, are ready to play with Figwort until he just can't play anymore and goes home. "That was so much fun that I don't think I'll ever go to sleep again," says Figwort, as he snuggles up with all the other little pigs and falls fast asleep. Dedicated "to all sleepless piglets around the world," this book is a wonderful bedtime read-aloud. PreSchool-K-Figwort tosses and turns, wiggles and jiggles, and remains wakeful into the night. "I am a pig who likes to have fun," he concludes, and proceeds to do just that. First, he goes for a deep-sea dive in his submarine, but he can't sleep. Next, he tries a trip to the North Pole, but sleep still eludes him. Lastly, he enjoys a wonderful trip to the moon, where he plays and races and has such a marvelous time that, when he finally returns to his own bed, he falls fast asleep. The inventive and rhythmic language with its vivid images (e.g., "an octopus sucking its thumbs") and repetitive elements that invite participation are perfectly matched by the illustrations. Exuberant and dynamic, they are full of energy and movement. Little Pig Figwort cavorts over large expanses of white space; the lines are free and sweeping, reminiscent of the work of Margot Zemach; and all of the characters, from a bad-tempered starfish to a chorus line of dancing pigs, express a kind of joyous abandon that is bound to make readers chuckle. But, no question, attention is always centered on Figwort himself, irresistible from the tip of his inquisitive, triangular snout to the end of his expressive tail. Nor is there any doubt that this will be welcome bedtime reading for any child who has trouble falling asleep. Marian Drabkin, formerly at Richmond Public Library, CA Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. Ages 3-5. His siblings are sound asleep, but little pig Figwort simply isn't sleepy. Against a clean, white background, the spotted piglet turns this way and tosses that way, opening and closing his eyes. "I am a pig who likes to have fun," a wide-awake Figwort declares. So he heads off for adventures. The next two-page spread, colored sea blue, depicts Figwort trying to have an adventure underwater--but even the mermaid wants to sleep. The same is true at the North Pole, where the polar bears are snoozing. It takes a trip to the moon for Figwort to find some pigs ready to frolic--but all that dancing is exhausting, even for a little pig who thinks he's immune to sleep. The design elements work wonderfully well with the concept. Pictures of the pig's fabulous adventures alternate with illustrations of Figwort trying to settle down, and six spot drawings capture his restlessness. Needless to say, little ones will closely identify with the inability to fall asleep when adventure could be just beyond the turn of a page. Ilene Cooper Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved " [a] satisfying bedtime fantasy...dreamy watercolors" Kirkus Reviews Claudio Munoz has illustrated a number of books for children, including LITTLE PIG FIGWORT CAN'T GET TO SLEEP by Henrietta Branford and NIGHT WALK by Jill Newsome, both for Clarion. He was born and raised in Chile and now lives in England. Used Book in Good Condition