Kirkus Reviews

A "Porky Panicker" what ifs his party plans to death.Pig is a kind, fun, and generous friend; all his friends think so, and they all feel pretty lucky to have Pig for a companion. One day, Pig is struck by the brilliant idea to throw a party, but then he comes down with an attack of the what ifs. Suddenly the pleasantly smiling porker's mouth turns down, becomes an O of horror, arranges itself in a rigid, toothy, fake grin as he imagines each scenario: A lion eats the invitations (or the guests!), no one comes, or they come but no one has fun. Worst, "What if…no one really likes me at all?" A relieved smile ghosts over Pig's face when he imagines cancelling the party. Though friend Mouse supports Pig in this decision, Mouse is behind the scenes working to return all the friendship Pig has showered on his friends, reassuring a sad Pig that "Things don't stay gray for very long." Indeed, Pig's loyal friends prove that while sharing their own worries and fears with one another, thereby lessening their impacts. "What if I have the kindest, most generous and fun friends a pig could meet?" Pig happily concludes. Hunter's simple, brightly colored illustrations keep the focus on the animal characters, each one drawn with just a few characteristic traits to enable species identification. Readers will certainly empathize with Pig and his emotions. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-16-inch double-page spreads viewed at 27.9% of actual size.)What if you only imagined good what ifs? (Picture book. 4-8)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Lighthearted doodle-adjacent digital art in a vibrant color palette lends Hunter-s -porky panicker- protagonist levity in this cheerful picture book debut. Egg-shaped Pig, who wears white spectacles, is -incredibly kind, fabulously fun, and endlessly generous--and blue-gray Mouse, as well as other animal friends, agree. -But what if Pig had a secret?- As Pig-s identity as -a proper nervous Nelly- is revealed, what-if questions serve as a refrain, presenting a visualized thought spiral about the party and its chances of success. -What if a FEROCIOUS LION eats all the invitations?- one spread reads, as a smiling, round goldenrod-colored lion munches on envelopes. But then Mouse steps in, letting Pig nap, giving Pig a drink, and taking them for a walk before revealing a surprise party. A paragon of supportive friendship, with a gentle encouragement to share mental health struggles with trusted friends. Ages 4-8. (June)

School Library Journal (Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

PreS-Gr 2 Have you ever had a friend as kind, fun, and generous as Pig, but who has a big secret? Mouse and the many others who feel lucky to count Pig among their friends, but he is "a Tremendous Worrier, a Porky Panicker, a Proper Nervous Nelly." He wants to throw a party for Mouse and their friends, but cannot shake the feeling that something will go wrong. Pig considers canceling the party, but Mouse helps him see past his worrying so that he can eventually enjoy the celebration. The comic poses and vibrant colors add much-needed levity to this important story about fear, anxiety, and friendship. Young readers will learn that being afraid is a common, temporary feeling, and that they can talk to others about it. VERDICT A necessary and powerful lesson for children, accompanied by expressive, funny scenes. Maegen Rose, Rye Country Day Sch., NY