pigs – Aussie Reviews

Clarrie’s Pig Day Out by Jen Storer ill Sue de Gennaro

The sun is up and I have a lot to shoe.

No. I have a lot to poo.

No, no, no. I have a lot to do.

I’m going out and my dag is coming with me.

‘Bert!’ I say. ‘Bert, are you ready?’

But Bert doesn’t come.

The sun is up and I have a lot to shoe.

No. I have a lot to poo.

No, no, no. I have a lot to do.

I’m going out and my dag is coming with me.

‘Bert!’ I say. ‘Bert, are you ready?’

But Bert doesn’t come.

Clarrie is a farmer, who has things to do in town. He also has a bit of trouble with words – getting the right ones, that is. He wants to take his dog but Bert can’t be found. So Clarrie sets off without him. His day in town is full of tasks, from having morning tea, through getting new footwear to acquiring some new farm animals. But disaster strikes on the way home and perhaps Clarrie and his purchases may not make it. Clarrie and his chickens will need help if they are going to make it home. Illustrations use many mediums (acrylic, watercolour, ballpoint pen, grey lead and collage) and are set in white space. The font is handwriting-like and the mixed up words are presented letter by letter as if they have been torn from a newspaper or other source.

Clarrie’s Pig Day Out bumbles gently along though a day in the life of farmer Clarrie. The language is poetic and funny, the illustrations an ongoing chuckle. The word substitutions will set the reader giggling. Readers can spot Bert when Clarrie cannot, and find the other animals who populate the farm. Clarrie’s Pig Day Outoffers the opportunity to play with words, while subtly introducing meaning and variety to vocabularies. A hoot to read out loud, sure to be enjoyed by pre- and early-schoolers.

Clarrie’s Pig Day Out Jen Storer ill Sue de Gennaro

ABC Books 2016 ISBN: 9780733334443

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

Together Always, by Edwina Wyatt & Lucia Masciullo

When Pig got lost, Goat found the way.
When Goat felt giddy, Pig told a story.
‘We will stick together,’ said Goat.
‘Always?’
‘Always.’

Pig and Goat live together in the orchard, doing everything together. They are happy and pledge to be together, always. But one night the orchard gate swings open and Goat wants to go and explore. Pig isn’t so sure, but follows for a while. When he decides he wants to go home, Goat doesn’t want to come. As they spend months apart, the pair each remembers their absent friend. When Goat can’t sleep, he hums just like Pig used to do, and when Pig gets lost, he finds the way like Goat used to. Finally, though, Goat comes home and there is joyful reunion, after which they live together again, except for occasional separations, during which they still think of each other.

Together Always is a wonderful exploration of friendship and the way it survives absence and separation. It is also a reminder that friends can be different and have separate interests, and still be close to each other. Of course, it is also simply a moving, fun story with a touch of whimsy.

The illustrations, in watercolour with pencil outlines on lovely cream pages, use rich pastel colours and quirky details but, of course, it is Pig and Goat themselves who are the most delightful.

A beautiful tribute to friendship.

Together Always, by Edwina Wyatt & Lucia Masciullo
Little Hare, 2016
ISBN 9781742979632

My First Day at School, by Rosie Smith & Bruce Whatley

On my first day…

From dressing themselves, to eating breakfast, meeting new friends, counting, playing and even home time, My First Day at School takes youngsters through fairly typical things that happen on the first day of school. The use of a range of animal characters adds humour and interest. The character on the spread with the line “I dress myself”, for example, is a centipede, sporting brightly patterned socks on each of its numerous feet. Other spreads feature rabbits, dogs, owls, a rhino and more.

This use of the animal characters to illustrate what is very simple text does not remove it too far from children’s experience and the use of both familiar and less familiar animals – including a sloth, a puffin and a tapir (?) – creates room for discussion both about what is happening at school and about the animals themselves.

Perfect for a young child starting school, My First Day at School is a treasure from one of Australia’s bets loved creative teams in Bruce Whatley and Rosie Smith.

My First Day at School, by Rosie Smith & Bruce Whatley
Scholastic, 2016
ISBN 9781743622964

This Little Piggy Went Singing, by Margaret Wild & Deborah Niland

This little piggy went singing
This little piggy stayed home
This little piggy had noodles
This little piggy had none
And this little piggy went toot, toot, toot
all the way home.

Inspired by the traditional ‘This Little Piggy’ rhyme, this delightful Christmas picture book is full of action and humour and little Christmassy details. Every spread has four pigs doing various Christmas related things, and a fifth making music ‘all the way home.’ The five pigs take turns so that it is not the same pig who stays home, or plays music, or has none. As well as making music, the pigs trim the tree, bake, post Christmas cards, eat Christmas treats and more.

The pigs are full of life and. just simply, adorable. Spotting the mouse-friend appears on every spread will entertain young readers.

A lovely way to celebrate Christmas, and also suitable for year-round reading, This Little Piggy Went Singing would make a special gift for a toddler.

This Little Piggy Went Singing

This Little Piggy Went Singing, by Margaret Wild & Deborah Niland
Allen & Unwin, 2014
ISBN 9781743319123

Available from good bookstores and online.

Piglet and Granny, by Margaret Wild & Stephen Michael King

Although Granny was soft and squishy, she was a lively as a family of leaping frogs. And she had such good ideas for things to do.
One morning Piglet waited and waited by the gate for Granny to arrive.
She waited and waited.
But Granny didn’t come.

Piglet loves Granny, and the things they do, but waiting for Granny to come and play is hard. Luckily she has her friends – Cow, Horse, Sheep and Duck – to reassure her and keep her company until Granny finally arrives. And with Granny’s arrival, the fun can begin!

Piglet and Granny is the third picture book featuring the delightful Piglet and various of her family members, as well as the other farm animals. Whilst each features Piglet and her farm animal friends, the three tales do manage to be different so that readers find them familiar but not repetitive. Stephen Michael King’s adorable illustrations bring the story to life with deceptively simple watercolour and ink outlines.

Piglet and Granny is an adorable offering, suitable for bedtime reading – or any time reading! First released in 2009, and now rereleased in paperback.

Piglet and Granny, by Margaret Wild & Stephen Michael King
Working Title, 2011
ISBN 9781921504204

This book can be purchased online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Pirate Peter and the Pig, by Simon Grant

Peter was a pirate.
One day he went into a pet shop.
‘I’d like a parrot,’ he said.
‘I’m sorry,’ said the pet shop owner.
‘I’ve run out of parrots. Would you like a pig instead?’

Everyone knows that a pirate needs a parrot and Pirate Peter is no exception. Except that the pet shop has run out of parrots. The pet shop owner is very helpful and offers him an alternative. Peter’s protestations that the pig is not quite right evokes even more assistance. Very little that she offers is quite right. But like all the best pet shop owners, this one is not giving up. Eventually though, Peter is happy. Well, almost. Illustrations are gentle and humourous, with warm colours barely contained within the pages.

Pirate Peter and the Pig is quite absurd, in the best possible way. Pirate Peter is keen to be the best, scariest pirate there is but he’s not really quite sure how that can work. The pet shop owner is full of goodwill and helpful suggestions, which she can’t quite support. The more despondent about his appearance Peter becomes, the wilder her suggestions. Eventually though, her good nature finds a solution. She comes sideways at his problem and gently brings him to happiness. A good fun read. Recommended for pre- and early schoolers.

Pirate Peter and the Pig, Simon Grant ill Jenny Cooper
Scholastic 2009
ISBN:9781869439408

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author
www.clairesaxby.com

Piglet and Granny, by Margaret Wild & Stephen Michael King

Piglet and Granny is an adorable offering, suitable for bedtime reading – or any time reading!

Piglet and Granny, by Margaret Wild & Stephen Michael King
Working Title, 2009

This book can be purchased online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Old Pig, by Margaret Wild & Ron Brooks

‘Keep it safe,’ Old Pig said, ‘and use it wisely.’
‘I will,’ said Granddaughter. She tried to smile but her mouth wobbled, and Old Pig said, ‘There, there, no tears.’
‘I promise,’ said Granddaughter, but it was the hardest promise she’d ever had to make.

In this classic picture book, Old Pig knows she is going to die, and sets about putting her affairs in order and saying goodbye to her much loved Granddaughter.

Old Pig was first published in 1995 and has been loved by parents, teachers and children since then. It is wonderful to see it rereleased in hardcover format so that it remains available to new readers.

With gentle text by Margaret Wild and rich illustrations by Ron Brooks, the mixture of sadness and love, and the sense of closure, makes this a perfect delivery on a difficult topic.

Perfect.

Old Pig, by Margaret Wild & Ron Brooks
Allen & Unwin, 2009

This book can be purchased online at Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Applesauce and the Christmas Miracle, by Glenda Millard

One orange evening,
tiger-striped with blackened trees,
a pig sat, reminiscing.

In the wake of a bushfire which has ravaged his owners’ home, Applesauce the pig struggles to feel any joy in Christmas. Wise Owl tells Applesauce that Christmas comes from the heart, but Applesauce’s heart is heavy. He wants joys for his people, Marigold and Joe. And, in the final pages of this delightful tale, Applesauce learns Owl’s lesson as he sees a Christmas miracle unfold.

This poignant tale is written in prose, yet has a delightful lyrical quality, with every word tenderly wrought. Adult and child readers alike will feel Applesauce’s melancholy in the words, as well as the whimsical yet gently muted illustrations by Stephen Michael King.

This is a book not just for Christmas but for any day – and it is a heart-warming tale with a message for everyone.

Divine.

Applesauce and the Christmas Miracle, by Glenda Millard & Stephen Michael King (ill)

This book can be purchased online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Pig Out, by Sascha Hutchinson

Every day, five little pigs eat their fill of a new food. On Monday it’s porridge, on Tuesday it’s parsnips and so on. But whilst four of the pigs eat well and grow bigger, one little pig seems not to be eating. He isn’t growing at all. Why isn’t he eating? All is revealed, when after five days of eating healthy foods, on Saturday the little pig gets his turn and eats pizza.

This is a funny, cute title for the very young with minimal text and unique collage illustrations. It took this adult reader a couple of reads to pick up that the little pig wasn’t growing, but when I read it to my youngster he picked it up straight away!

Popular since its first release in 1999, Pig Out has been re-released in paperback format.

Pig Out, by Sascha Hutchinson
This edition Working Title Press, 2006