Poppleton is the new pig in town. He makes friends with his neighbor, Cherry Sue, but all she wants to do is feed Poppleton--oatmeal in the morning, toasted cheese in the afternoon, spaghetti at night. The food frenzy goes on day after day until Poppleton soaks Cherry Sue with his hose. He's tired of sharing meals, but it turns out Cherry Sue thought he'd be hurt if she stopped preparing food for him. In a second, rather plotless chapter, Poppleton visits the library on Mondays; in the last installment, Poppleton helps a friend take his medicine. Poppleton is an appealing character, especially the way he is drawn by Mark Teague, but the vignettes themselves lack zip. Still, this is an attractive package, and the art alone will draw kids in. Once there, they won't mind using the book to brush up on their reading skills. (Reviewed February 1, 1997)