ALA Booklist (Sat May 01 00:00:00 CDT 1993)

King-Smith, familiar to many as a writer of children's books, was once a farmer who kept pigs. Lucky pigs! As the title makes clear, King-Smith never met one who was anything but beautiful to him, and that's more than he can say for people. The large-type, reader-friendly, conversational text tells children more than what pigs do. It tells what pigs are really like: they love having their backs scratched, they'll talk to you in squeaks and grunts, and they're sometimes very stubborn. With the same gentle humor as the text, Jeram's ink-and-watercolor artwork reflects affectionate delight in the creatures' forms, faces, and habits. As beguiling an introduction to pigs as any child could hope to see. (Reviewed May 1, 1993)

Horn Book

Jeram's endearing, simply executed watercolors enhance a witty text that examines the ways in which pigs are similar and dissimilar to people. King-Smith's affection for pigs is refreshing.

Kirkus Reviews

Allowing that his favorite was fierce-looking Monty, a 600- pound large white'' who had tenwives'' and was a pushover'' who loved to have his head scratched, the author of Babe, the Gallant Pig (1985) ruminates companionably about the habits and characters of pigs. Onetime farmer King-Smith treats his subject with perspicacity; this may be a paean to pigs, embellished with amusingthings a pig might be saying'' (Don't you dare pick up one of my babies''), but it's not sentimental; he even observes that a sow may accidentally squash her own young. And there's a sly subtext: pigs are wonderfully varied in size, shape, and color, and also, in many ways the author details, a lot like people—But all pigs are beautiful.'' Jeram picks up King-Smith's affection and enthusiasm with humorously limned porcines in vigorous pen lines dappled with soft watercolors. Entertaining and genuinely informative: the best yet in the uneven new `` Read and Wonder'' series. (Picture book. 4+)"

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

Four books are now available in paperback as part of the Read and Wonder series. In All Pigs Are Beautiful by Dick King-Smith, illus. by Anita Jeram, the author of Babe the Gallant Pig imparts firsthand knowledge of his own porcine pals. Big Blue Whale by Nicola Davies, illus. by Nick Maland, takes a look at the physical characteristics, habits and habitat of """"the biggest creature that has ever lived on Earth!"""" The features and life cycle of the eel are presented in Think of an Eel by Karen Wallace, illus. by Mike Bostock, and Martin Jenkins explores the ever-changing reptiles in Chameleons Are Cool, illus. by Sue Shields. (May)

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-King-Smith knows both his pigs and his intended audience. Using a picture-book format, he flawlessly interlards fond reminiscences of porkers he has known with interesting facts about them that are sure to keep children absorbed. His tone is affectionate, amusing, and informative. Jeram's pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations, done in soft, earthy colors, are a warm match for the text. They emanate gentle good humor and are spaced attractively. This book succeeds splendidly in providing an appealing introduction to pigs (and to quality nonfiction) for young readers.-Kay McPherson, Central Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, GA