Publisher's Weekly, June 20, 1994

With precocious critters drawn in a clean, hard-edged style similar to that of Berke Breathed (minus the airbrush), Lies (illustrator of the Flatfoot Fox books) offers a promising picture book, his solo debut. No brooding Danish prince, his Hamlet is an adventure-loving young pig. Against the advice of Quince, his play-it-safe porcupine friend, Hamlet decides to go fly a kite—a huge scarlet dragon of the type used in Chinese New Year’s parades. It dwarfs Hamlet, and when it catches a breeze, lifts him into the sky. Quince urges Hamlet to drop back down, but “the farther up he went, the worse the idea of letting go seemed.” Finally, a flock of eagles shreds the dragon and the porcine risk-taker plummets toward the earth, landing safely in a tree. Kite-sailing readers familiar with the wind’s strong tug will have no trouble imagining Hamlet’s flight. Lies’s most effective angle is a vertiginous close-up of the soaring eagles and kite, with Hamlet in the background and yellow fields far below. Only a few superfluities in the text keep this from being an all-out smash. Lies’s rich autumnal palette, meticulously detailed images and ability to sustain narrative tension make him someone to watch.

Kirkus Reviews, August 15, 1994

Hamlet, and intrepid little pig, decides to buy a kite—not a little kite like his nervous friend Quince the porcupine suggests timidly, but a fierce, red Chinese dragon kite. He buys the fearsome thing and heads for a field near his house, where the wind is nice and strong. Hamlet has glorious fun until a big gust of wind comes along. Hamlet won’t let go of the kite, so he is yanked up into the air and has the ride of his life. But when an eagle thinks that a real dragon is kidnapping Hamlet, she and the other eagles rush to his defense, tearing the kite to pieces. The kite’s string gets tangled in a tree on the descent, so Hamlet is saved from a crash landing. Later, ensconced in his favorite chair sipping cocoa, the irrepressible Hamlet starts dreaming up another great adventure.
Bright and comical illustrations add to the pleasure of this cheerful story that celebrates the wild spirit of a spunky pig as well as the wisdom of his more conservative pal.

Booklist, October 15, 1994

When the pig Hamlet tells his porcupine friend Quince that he is going to buy a kite, Quince foresees trouble. Knowing that Hamlet’s adventures always end in disaster, Quince tries unsuccessfully to change his friend's mind. But Hamlet buys a huge red Chinese dragon kite and is soon having the time of his life. Unfortunately, when the string runs out, the strong wind carries Hamlet aloft as a distressed Quince watches from below. Hamlet meets an airborne eagle, who, thinking the dragon is kidnapping the pig, gathers his friends to destroy the kite. Plummeting to earth, Hamlet is snagged by a tree. After being scolded by cows, he trudges home, where Quince welcomes him with a cup of hot chocolate. All is peaceful--until Hamlet thinks of another adventure. Lies’ bright color drawings, reminiscent of Bill Peet’s work, carry the sprightly story, which explores the nature of friendship, to great heights.

School Library Journal, August 1994

When Hamlet, a small pig, decides to buy a huge kite, his friend Quince, a porcupine, is worried. Undeterred, Hamlet gets the “. . .beautiful Chinese dragon. . . with fierce claws and a long winding tail” that he has admired at the village store. Quince’s worst fears are confirmed when the kite, flying high on a strong wind, sweeps the porker up and away. At first he enjoys being airborne, but in the end, he is happy to land in one piece. This simple adventure story, with its animal cast and a setting that suggests rural New England, celebrates the thrill of risk-taking and the warmth of friendship. Full-color illustrations reminiscent of Bill Peet’s work add slapstick humor to the text and portray the dragon it all its red splendor.
A diverting read-aloud.