The Book Hog has a particularly odd cover that at first made me think this was going to be a very weak book. It was going to have a particular story (slapstick for no reason). However, I did enjoy it. And while the artwork is still not my thing, it has a certain charm to that works well with the story.
Greg Pizzoli has created a book about how one Hog is a Book Hog. He loves books. Loves the way they smell. The way they feel in his hooves. He loves the ones with pictures best. He loves reading anytime. And will pick up books anyplace he can. The one thing he cannot do is read them. But one day, he smells a building filled with books and here he learns something special.
Pizzoli is also the illustrator of The Book Hog. Which makes me think he must be a very quirky kind of person. There is the sketch format that almost is realistic, but at the same time is also cartoonish. There are pinks all over the place along with other perky colors. Not to mention, there are books and books and books with the clever Easter eggs of having actual titles on them. These and other details just keep an upbeat tone to the story. And speaking of the story, there is not a lot of text as well. This also makes for a quick and bouncy book.
If you like Book Hog you will enjoy other books by him (Good Night Owl or The Watermelon Seed) as his style is consistent.