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Even a piece of garbage can change your whole life. One morning Zeke Pippin, a young pig, is moseying down the street when a harmonica falls off of a garbage truck, right in front of him. He takes it home, cleans it, and begins to play up a storm. He is a natural, soon regaling his family with the prelude to La Traviata. His family is very proud of him, but they instantly fall asleep upon hearing ... More

Even a piece of garbage can change your whole life. One morning Zeke Pippin, a young pig, is moseying down the street when a harmonica falls off of a garbage truck, right in front of him. He takes it home, cleans it, and begins to play up a storm. He is a natural, soon regaling his family with the prelude to La Traviata. His family is very proud of him, but they instantly fall asleep upon hearing his tranquilizing tune. Zeke is indignant at their apparent rudeness and runs away from home, drifting down the Hinkaholly River on his trusty raft. Eventually, as he zeezles and zoozles on his harmonica, he notices that, judging by the effect his music has on other animals, he is in possession of a supernatural, sleep-inducing instrument. Zeke is sheepish. He can't believe he doubted the manners--the very integrity--of his family, who by now must miss him horribly: "He knew he must bring them a surcease of their sorrow, as swiftly as possible, and clear up this painful misunderstanding." Getting home, however, is not easy, and as it turns out, downright dangerous, but he successfully bamboozles his way until he finally faints upon the doormat of home sweet home. Zeke's family is overjoyed, and soon their boy becomes famous (more celebrated than the mayor) and everyone lives happily, musically ever after. William Steig's simple, expressive, comically deadpan drawings earned him a Caldecott Medal for Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, (link to 067166154X) and Zeke Pippin, Steig's 25th book for children, deserves a beloved place right next to it on the bookshelf. (Age 4 to 104) --Karin Snelson

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