ALA Booklist

One small pig doesn't want to face the first day of school alone: Is it time for school already, Daddy? You come too. Daddy does come to school and even stays after all the other parents leave. Father and son do their own projects while the other animals play as a group. Finally, the exasperated teacher puts a (webbed) foot down and insists that the dad leave the classroom. Surprise! The small pig has fun with the other animals, and at the end of the day he can't believe how the time has flown: It's time to go . . . already! The story is as simple as can be, but Kaufmann gets a lot out of a sentence or so per page. Spetter's endearing illustrations, executed in pure colors with figures outlined in ink, paint a benign and playful portrait of a first day at school that will comfort the most reluctant young student.

Horn Book (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2004)

On the first day of school, a little pig has trouble saying goodbye to his father, and Daddy ends up staying through quite a few activities before he finally leaves. This thin, familiar story's spare text is awkwardly phrased, but the book is redeemed by its textured, pastel-colored spreads, most of which feature busy young animal classmates at play and a sympathetic young pig.

Kirkus Reviews

Piggy has a hard time saying goodbye to his father on the first day of school, but then he finds that the day is over much too soon. A tender-hearted father cannot bear the pleas of his child to stay and play for a while. Even when all the other parents have hugged and comforted their children, Piggy asks his father to stay for just a bit longer, enticing him with just one more story, a swing through the air, and a cuddle. When the teacher lets Piggy's father know that it is time to go, it is uncertain whether it is father or child who needs the nudge. Strong washes of color and simple figures illustrate a school that's filled with a menagerie of happy animals. Few words on each page and a large font make this perfect for lap reading or small group sharing. A good choice for first-day jitters, whether for parents or children. (Picture book. 2-5)

School Library Journal (Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2003)

PreS "Is it time for school already , Daddy? You come too." The piglet is anxious about being left with the teacher (a big white bird) and all the other students. So Daddy stays, at least for a while, and soon his child is readyafter a brief moment of anguishto join the other little animals in their activities. At the end, of course, there's a reversal, and the little pig is reluctant to go home: "It's time to go already !" The text is spare, with the colorful pictures carrying most of the story. The artwork is skillfully done, with soft colors and clean lines showing a classroom full of elephants, alligators, ducks, and more. The fact that it's a father instead of a mother accompanying the youngster is another plus. Overall, the story covers no new ground, but its quiet charm and perennially relevant plot make for a solid addition for most collections. Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL