Starred Review Gerald and Piggie are great friends, but will the friendship survive Piggie's latest offer? She loves slop and asks Gerald to try it. After eyeing the steaming, fly-festooned bowl of green goop, he resists, even refuses, but eventually relents because Piggie is his friend. Will he try dessert? Don't count on it. Friendship may transcend tastes t even great friends have their limit. Young readers will respond lovingly and laughingly to Willems' much-loved characters because they are so like children themselves. His cartoon illustrations are simple but humorous and full of facial expressions vivid enough to make readers believe that they, too, can smell Piggie's slop. As Piggie offers Gerald her wonderful slop, children will echo the elephant's own horrified sounds. The minimalist text corresponds with the simple illustrations, ensuring this will be another favorite among Willems' growing Elephant and Piggie series. Fans who love the author's Knuffle Bunny and Cat the Cat series books will, of course, enjoy Elephant and Piggie, as will those who claim Dr. Seuss, Bob Shea, and Oliver Jeffers as favorites. Willems has written another laugh-out-loud winner that will leave kids shouting for second helpings even thirds. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Willems' latest proves his beloved and award-winning series for beginning readers isn't losing any steam. Order up!

PreS-Gr 2 Elephant and Piggie are back! This time Piggie has createdslop. When Gerald gets a whiff of the pea-green concoction and sees flies buzzing around the bowl, he asks Piggie if it is supposed to smell that way. With the exaggerative flair Willems is known for, as Piggie sniffs, her hat pops off, eyes bulge, and her head turns from turquoise to orange before she answers "Yessssss!" Piggie is eager for her best friend to try the recipe, but Gerald emphatically refuses. Seeing that he has upset his friend, Gerald changes his mind. Willems successfully executes the tension in the tasting scene by using two pages to zoom in on Gerald's face as a dot of slop touches his tongue. Gerald turns four shades of bright colors before transforming into a yellow and purple polka-dotted elephant. As he begins to return to his normal gray self, Piggie asks if he liked it. Although Gerald confesses that he does not, he shares that he is glad he tried it, because that is what friends do for each other. Variance in text size and melodramatic facial expressions will help readers understand how the two pals feel throughout the story. Elephant and Piggie fans will enjoy the new twist of bright colors used in contrast against the signature gray and pink hues. VERDICT Through a story line and illustrations that produce rollicking laughter, Elephant and Piggie once again share with young readers what it means to be a friend. Beth Parmer, New Albany Elementary Library, OH