Pig the Pug

October 10, 2016
Originally published in Australia, this irreverent tale introduces Pig, a selfish pug who refuses to share his cache of toys with his housemate, a “wiener dog” named Trevor: “ ‘You’ve got some great toys there,’ poor Trevor would say./ But Pig would just grumble, ‘They’re mine! Go away!’ ” Rendered in acrylic, pen, and pencil, Blabey’s (Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley) portraits highlight the dogs’ personalities through their expressive faces and body language. Both have bulbous eyes that seem to pop from the pages, but Trevor grins at readers with a toothy smile while Pig is in a near-constant state of temper tantrum. Perched on a wobbling pile of playthings, Pig tumbles out an open window, leaving him in no position to keep Trevor away from his toys. Punctuated by Pig’s angry ranting, Blabey’s jaunty rhymes will make for some fun read-alouds. Although Pig doesn’t necessarily see the error of his ways (despite being in a full body cast when readers last see him), children will have no trouble recognizing the ridiculousness in his behavior. Ages 3–5.

November 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 2-Pig, a greedy little pug, lives with Trevor, an amiable dachshund. While Pig has an assorted array of goodies-toy bones, balls, chew toys-he refuses to share the wealth with Trevor. When Pig's companion gently attempts to persuade the pug that playing together might be fun, Pig explodes. He jumps on top of a gigantic pile of his loot, jealously guarding it from Trevor-and soon finds that pride goes before a (painful) fall. The story is straightforward and fun, though the text, told in rhyming verse, is occasionally strained ("And once he had gathered them/up in a pile, /he howled from the top/with a satisfied smile."). The rich, saturated acrylic artwork has a caricaturelike feel and will invite giggles of delight from readers and listeners. Plump Pig is particularly exaggerated, with bulging eyes, a protruding tongue, and a manic expression as he gestures wildly atop his mountain of toys. Young children will revel in his unapologetically naughty antics and might even learn a lesson or two about the value of sharing. VERDICT Though this tale takes on a familiar subject, it should provoke laughter from the intended audience. A fine option where books on sharing are needed.-Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2016
In rhyming text, a bug-eyed pug named Pig stubbornly refuses to share with the almost equally bug-eyed Trevor, the "wiener dog" he lives with--and soon gets his comeuppance.The book begins showing the eponymous dog astride a large, red bowl of dog food, tongue hanging out and all four paws gripping the bowl. It perfectly matches the text: "Pig was a Pug / and I'm sorry to say, / he was greedy and selfish / in most every way." A bit of humor comes through when the text plays on the adage about pigs by reminding readers that "pugs cannot fly." However, most of the text is composed of trite, tired rhymes. The ending is a punch line whose funny picture will have little ones giggling. However, the ultimate "lesson" is a rather dark cynicism, more appropriate to children older than the age suggested by the rhymes, the art, and even the publisher. There may be some vicarious thrills for those who have witnessed excessive selfishness. The artwork is humorous, although Pig's appearance is sometimes more grotesque than funny--particularly when he shouts at Trevor. Both male dogs' facial expressions and body language add to the humor, and dog lovers will appreciate Pig's array of colorful toys. Scansion is spotty, which should not happen in verses so dependent on rhythm and rhyme to entertain their young audience. Children who love dogs will find this amusing the first time through, but the humor palls quickly. (Picture book. 3-5)

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November 1, 2016
Preschool-K Pig the Pug can't be ignored. From the close-up depiction of his feisty face that dominates the front cover, to his greediness ( Pig was a Pug / and I'm sorry to say, / he was greedy and selfish / in most every way ), he demands attention. Pig devours his food from a bowl emblazoned with the word MINE, and he's never nice to his housemate, a wiener dog named Trevor. While Trevor flashes a big toothy smile, Pig grimaces as he flips his wig over a suggestion of shared play. The rhyming lines scan smoothly, creating a rhythm to this story with a predictable ending, and the predominance of red as background and intermittent color (balls, steaks, clown noses) adds energy. Pig's expressive, bulging eyes also add to the power of the tale. There is certainly a moral here, but there's lots of fun to be had in the telling. Pair with The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? (2012), by Mo Willems, for a slightly different take on attitude and sharing.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)