On a dark and scary Halloween night, Sheldon the short-order pig is out looking for work when his car breaks down. Gathering up his courage, he approaches an ominous-looking mansion and enters the twisted world of Dr. Edmund Vermin! Will poor Sheldon escape or be forever trapped in Dr. Vermin’s laboratory? Things aren’t what they seem in Tim Egan’s latest zany tale of ravishing wolves, giant pigs and . . . horseradish!
Sheldon, a pig who works as a short-order cook, encounters a mad scientist one stormy Halloween night and must face all of his biggest fears.Tim Egan is the author and illustrator of several offbeat and humorous tales for children. He is consistently recognized for his individuality and delightful illustrations. Born in New Jersey, Tim moved to California to attend the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He still lives in southern California with his wife, Ann, and their two sons. To learn more about Tim Egan, visit his Web site at www.timegan.com. For a complete list of books by Tim Egan, visit www.houghton mifflinbooks.com.
In this wry sendup of horror cliches, an affable pig has car trouble in wolf country one dark and stormy Halloween. When he approaches a gloomy mansion for help, a diabolical scientist turns him into a giant. "You're huge, and I'm in complete control of your mind!" Dr. Vermin cackles. "But this was where the evil doctor was wrong." The hero foils Vermin and even overcomes his dread of wolves. Egan (A Mile from Ellington Station) sets a satiric tone with nuanced understatement. His earthy palette exudes firelit warmth, and his pliant, pillowy forms soften the spookiness. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)
PreS-Gr 3-Sheldon, a porcine short-order cook, is driving along looking for work on his least favorite night of the year (Halloween) when his car breaks down. Then a loud clap and a distant howling in the dark woods terrify him, as he has a distinct fear of both thunder and wolves. And so begins the rollicking romp through the mansion of the evil Dr. Vermin, who captures Sheldon, turning him into a pig monster four times his original size. When the mad scientist realizes that he doesn't have control of his victim's mind, he kicks him out, and Sheldon runs next door for help, only to find two kindly humans who, he learns, are really wolves on whom Dr. Vermin has experimented. The pig admirably faces all of his fears, saving the day (or night, in this case) and securing a job in the process-cooking for the wolf couple. Egan's not-at-all-frightening artwork is full of amusing details, from the expressions of the evil doctor and terrified pig to the wolves in human form. Young children will enjoy the muted artwork as much as they will appreciate this super silly, slightly scary story.-Lisa Gangemi Kropp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
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