KIRKUS REVIEWS TITLE INFORMATION BACON LOVES EVERYONE! Tina Neely IMHIS (32 pp.) $1 9.95 hardcover ISBN: 9798987775608 January 23, 2024 BOOK REVIEW In author/illustrator Neely's picture book, a pig gets a new human family. A grumpy farmer takes Bacon—a gray pig with a pink, heart-shaped nose—and his multihued pig friends to a flea market to find them new owners. Bacon sings, "Oink Diddy, Oink Diddy, Oink, Oink, Oink!" First, a pale-skinned, red-haired boy shows Bacon to his father, who finds him too noisy. Identical twin sisters with brown skin and dark-brown curly hair find two pigs who happen to look alike. Eventually, Bacon is the only unadopted pig, but then an older couple finds him. The woman falls in love with Bacon immediately, but the man needs convincing—so Bacon launches into his song, which works. The couple's family includes other animals, including a chicken, a poodle, and two bunnies, each with their own version of the "Diddy" tune. The full-color cartoon illustrations feature sparsely detailed backgrounds, and the simple text is effectively big and bold, especially when the characters sing. Love is recurring theme, and hearts adorn each page; readers are invited to count them throughout, adding an extra layer of entertainment. The song repetition makes this a good book for younger children, allowing them to practice reading skills without feeling overwhelmed. They'll also find it Impossible not to root for Bacon. A simple but engaging tale of familial love for young readers. Kirkus Indie, Kirkus Media LLC, 2600 Via Fortuna Suite 130 Austin, TX 78746 indie@kirkusreviews.com

Review completed by Readers’ Choice Book Awards Author: Tina M Neely. Title: Bacon Loves Everyone! Review completed: September 2024 Bacon Bits (Bacon for short) is taken to a flea market by a farmer. Bacon hopes to be sold to a family, but no one wants to buy the little pig. One family think Bacon is too noisy. Another family is not interested in buying a pig. The farmer is grumpy, and Bacon is sad he will never find his forever home. When all the other farm animals have been sold, Bacon is about to give up hope, when a couple arrives. The woman falls in love with Bacon, but the man is not sure. Bacon tries his best to impress the man, and it works! The couple take Bacon home and he finally finds his forever family in Ohio. He meets lots of new friends, including a chicken, a toy poodle, two bunnies, and a pond full of fish. Although Bacon speaks a different language to the other animals, he is welcome and happy in his new home. Bacon Loves Everyone! is an interactive, illustrated picture book by Tina M Neely. The book is about a little pig named Bacon who is looking for his forever home. Bacon faces a number of rejections, but never gives up hope he will find his forever home one day. Inspired by a real life Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, the book features an adorable pig character, that young children will love. The illustrations are bright and engaging and will appeal to a young audience. Children can interact with the book, through singing along with the songs and searching for little hearts that appear on each page. The book has important messages about hope and gratitude, family and friendship, presented in a simple and accessible way for young readers. Perfect for young readers who love animal adventures. Star rating: 4 Stars Summary: A delightful, illustrated picture book with an adorable pot-bellied pig and a sweet, feel good message.