Molly's Magic

Fans of the wonderful blockbuster Babe, the Gallant Pig, will appreciate this iconographic story of Molly, an Irish house pig, raised by a young farm boy named Miles O'Malley. Playing with Miles one day, Molly gets on Mrs. O'Malley's bad side and is given a broom to the backside. Shepherding sheep along with the family dog, Molly discovers some wayward ewes munching on Mrs. O'Malley's roses and chases them away. Unfortunately, Molly, not the sheep, is accused of the crime, and she is banished to the sty with the other pigs. But when Mrs. O'Malley's sideline tourist business of offering tea and cakes to travelers starts to flag, Molly comes up with a winning solution. A pleasant tale, well-told and illustrated, with a rousing Irish-flavored score. Recommended for larger children's collections. Ages 4-9. (R. Pitman)