by Moe Zilla

Created on: March 07, 2010

"Not a Stick," explains the title - and the book is as simple as that. There's a simple black and white drawing showing the outline of a pig (who, yes, appears to be holding a stick.) "It's not a stick," the pig explains on the second page - and the stick has magically transformed into a fishing rod. with a line and a hook, that's about to be swallowed by a shark! The formula repeats throughout the book, with each transformation getting more imaginative. But while the text and the illustrations may be very simple - they're also a lot of fun.

"Look where you're going with that stick," the narrator warns.

"It's not a stick," the pig replies again...

This time it's the baton of a drum major leading a parade. (Behind him is a bunny rabbit, who's beating a big bass drum.) Next time it's not a stick, but a paintbrush in front of an easel.  "This is not a stick," the pig replies - apparently riffing on the title of a famous surrealist painting by Magritte. The painting he's drawn with his stick is "The Starry Night" by Vincent Van Gogh - which shows just how sophisticated that stick can become.

Antoinette Portis wrote this book as a sequel to an earlier 2006 book about the pig - which was called "Not a Box". That book won a Caldecott medal of honor, so it was inevitable that there'd be a sequel. The drawings are simple but effective, with the only color coming from the solid backgrounds behind her outline drawings. If there's a message to the book, it's that adults should respect the young pig's imagination. But it's also just a lot of fun to see the pig in so many interesting situations!

The pig's stick becomes a weightlifter's barbell, or a spear that a native wields in the dark. In my favorite picture, the pig is dressed like a cowboy - and the stick has become a horse that's rearing gallantly up off the ground. "I'm telling you, it's not a stick" the pig explains - and his expressionless face shows that he's perfectly unfazed. And he's not going to let a pesky narrator tell him how to have fun!

In the book's final set of drawings, the stick has become a sword that the pig can use to tame a spectacular blue dragon. "Okay," demands the narrator, "then what is it?"

"It's my Not-a-Stick!" the pig replies!

Learn more about this author, Moe Zilla.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.