Excited about the arrival of autumn, Mistress Pig invites a collection of friends over for a special dinner, but after waiting for so long outside her home, Mister Frog, Missy Cat, and Master Dog decide to take a peek and come to see that Mistress Pig ate the entire feast all by herself! - (Baker & Taylor)
Four friends, Missy Cat, Mistress Pig, Master Dog, and Mister Frog, enjoy an autumn dinner party together. - (Baker & Taylor)
It's a beautiful fall day -- perfect for dinner with friends. But will it ever be time to eat?
It's autumn!
The air is cool and crisp, and the leaves have changed to bright golds and reds.
Mistress Pig wants to celebrate her favorite season by cooking a big feast for her friends.
Mister Frog, Missy Cat, and Master Dog can't wait to taste all the delicious food. But why is it taking so long for Mistress Pig to come out of the kitchen?
You'll never believe what happened to dinner!
Join Tomie dePaola's beloved characters as they realize that every meal tastes better when served with a healthy dollop of friendship. - (Simon and Schuster)
Tomie dePaola (1934–2020) was the beloved author and/or illustrator of more than 270 books for young readers, including the children’s classic Strega Nona. He was the recipient of the Newbery Honor, Caldecott Honor, and the 2011 Children’s Literature Legacy Award for “significant and lasting contribution to children’s literature.” A native of Connecticut, Mr. dePaola studied at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and spent much of his life in New London, New Hampshire. Visit his work online at Tomie.com. - (Simon and Schuster)
Horn Book Guide Reviews
Mistress Pig invites her friends to dinner but, when preparing the meal, can't stop herself from eating all the food. Originally a chapter in [cf2]Four Stories for Four Seasons[cf1] (1977), the story is not quite as successful on its own because the relationships between the friends are less well defined. Nevertheless, DePaola's text and art still tell a funny story. Copyright 2005 Horn Book Guide Reviews.
Publishers Weekly Reviews
Originally published as part of Four Stories for Four Seasons (1977), Four Friends in Autumn by Tomie dePaola follows Mistress Pig as she invites her friends, Mister Frog, Missy Cat and Master Dog, over for a fancy dinner to celebrate the lovely fall weather. But will her victuals actually make it to the table? Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
School Library Journal Reviews
PreS-Gr 2-Reissued from the collection Four Stories for Four Seasons (S & S, 1980), this vignette deals with a winsome animal foursome. Seasonal details provide a backdrop for the narrative, which concerns Mistress Pig's dinner party. After encouraging her guests to enjoy the simple delights of fall, their hostess excuses herself to put the finishing touches on the meal. Missy Cat, Master Dog, and Mister Frog wait patiently at the table until an inordinate amount of time has passed. Hungry and concerned, they venture into the kitchen to see what might be amiss. It seems that Mistress Pig took her "finishing touches" rather too literally and in the course of taste testing the dishes, gobbled up the entire repast. Gracious and true friends even in the face of adversity, they console their distraught if sated hostess. Master Dog suggests they go to a restaurant where Mistress Pig begins her dinner with dessert. Signature dePaola illustrations, featuring cartoon characters with expressive faces, highlight this simple yet very funny story. Borders made from acorns and brown and gold leaves evoke the season.-Rosalyn Pierini, San Luis Obispo City-County Library, CA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
