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Hamlet the pig is unappreciated, his quirky preference for poetry and literature mocked by his slobbish, piggish family. With funnily buttoned shirt and clean sneakers, Hamlet wanders the forest in search of an audience, and thinks he has found one in the pond-reflection he believes is a new friend. He regales his twin, "Eggs", with his lyric, nature-inspired poems, and is devastated when his unresponsive double disappears from the pond as night falls. A delightful ending shows that Hamlet has had an appreciative audience all along.

A wonderful book for anyone hoping to share the passion of reading, and the delights of poetry. Beautiful watercolours throughout capture nature at its most inspiring, and depict a uniquely appealing new character.

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I debated about writing this review when I did. After all, reviewing a holiday picture book in the second week of October seems a little premature. Well, I held out about 4 days and could not wait any more (patience, clearly, is not one of my virtues)... Kate DiCamillo already has, in my opinion, written the most perfect children's novel with The Tale of Despereaux. Her new story, Great Joy, may just be the most perfect picture book. Frances is a little girl waiting excitedly for Christmas, and her role in the Christmas pageant, when she meets an organ grinder and his monkey outside her building who quickly start occupying her thoughts. Why don't they go home at night? What do they do when it's cold outside? The day of the pageant arrives and Frances finds she can't remember her part, until a surprise visitor gives her new inspiration. DiCamillo's clear, luminous writing and the story's thoughtful message are a shining start to the holiday season for children of all ages. She is, as ever, an absolute pleasure to read.