cover image By the Sea

By the Sea

Mary Hofstrand. Atheneum Books, $11.95 (32pp) ISBN 978-0-689-31421-6

In this lighthearted poem, a small pig rejoices in the differences between being at home (he has to wear lots of clothes, and his parents are too busy to play with him) and being at the seaside (``I never wear clothes / because everyone knows, I'm always just me by the sea''), where both his parents find time to spend with him. The watercolors that accompany this verse depict pigs with expressive faces and postures, and the countryside pastels are sweet without being cloying. The concept is quite childlike (the restrictions of ``normal'' life compared to the freedom of vacation), and even if the non-vacation time seems just a bit too lonely and hard, Hofstrand's sentiments will be appreciated by family members seeking to get away from it all. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)