Porky and Bess (Step Into Reading - Level 4 - Quality) - Softcover

Ellen Weiss and Mel Friedman have written hundreds of books for kids of all ages. They live in New York City and the Berkshires.

Marsha Winborn is the illustrator of more than 25 books for children, including the popular Digby and Kate series. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
From the Hardcover edition.

Grade 1–3—Porky, a pig, is a bachelor slob and Bess, a cat, is a single-mother neatnik, but they support each other through everyday adventures like cooking, ice-skating, and writing poetry. While these characters lack the charm and personality of classic beginning-reader duos such as Frog and Toad or George and Martha, they are pleasant enough. Each chapter offers a unique event, with the ongoing story line of Porky's poem-in-progress weaving throughout, though the pattern is jarred slightly by a single-page "Chapter three" in which Porky experiences writer's block. Chapter four offers the most whimsy, as the friends bake a cake that includes nighttime as an ingredient, but the book ends rather predictably as Porky presents a poem declaring his friendship for Bess. The names "Porky and Bess," reminiscent of the Gershwin opera, will amuse adults while having no effect on young readers. The warm, cozy illustrations have a Richard Scarry look to them, though they are less frenetic. Children will enjoy examining the detailed scenes, especially in Porky's messy house. While perhaps not destined to be a classic, this is a serviceable entry in the beginning-reader genre.—Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL
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