The Adventures of Pongo and Stink

The Adventures of Pongo and Stink by Lisa Nicol. Illustrated by Karen Blair. Penguin Books 2025. Hardcover Junior Fiction 195 pages. RRP $14.99. ISBN 9781761355691.

Reviewed by Debra Williams.

Meet Pongo and Stink, two young pigs who are fed up with living in the pigsty. Pongo feels that the farm dog, (their tormentor Rollo), owned by Farmer Nic, is treated much better than they are, especially when it comes to food, ear scratches, belly rubs and attention. Pongo suggests an outrageous idea to Stink: they should escape and dress up as dogs, to live the lifestyle they could easily become accustomed to.

Escaping from the sty and travelling into town, Pongo sees a costume shop, and she organises two dog disguises: a Border Collie suit for herself and a Corgi suit for her mate Stink (he isn’t so sure about the plan). As they walk back through town, however, everyone makes a great fuss of them, and Pongo is certain they are onto a good thing. After all, who can resist a pig in a dog suit?

Even Farmer Nic doesn’t recognise them as pigs when they show up at the farmhouse, and lavishes love and food on the two piggies, thinking that they are stray puppies, that is, until everything backfires! Along the way, there is a wily fox who tries to scupper their plans. Pongo and Stink eventually discover that to be yourself is the greatest, mud-splattered adventure of all.

Reminiscent of an Aesop’s fable with the clever pigs outsmarting the fox, this is a fun and delightful story of friendship, following your dreams and coming to self-acceptance. (Not to mention the dangers of eating far too much cheese!)

This story will be enjoyed by confident readers aged 7 years and over.

The Adventures of Pongo and Stink

The Adventures of Pongo and Stink by Lisa Nicol, illustrated by Karen Blair (Penguin Books) HB RRP $19.99 ISBN 9781761355691

This is a roll-in-the-mud adventure story about two piggies who love food but bite off more than they can chew. Pongo and Stink are FED UP with living in a pigsty. They want to live a life of luxury, all cosy in the farmhouse, getting loving pats from Farmer Nic while eating scones and jam on toast - just like their tormentor, Rollo the dog. When Pongo has the audacious idea of dressing up as pups, the two piggies set out to chase their dreams. But will the wily fox scupper their plans? Or will Pongo and Stink realise that they are perfect, just as they are . . .?

Written for children 6+ years, this is a highly illustrated story for children who love to read about mischievous pigs. It has themes of friendship, being yourself, and teamwork.

 

The What on Earth Institute of Wonder

The What on Earth Institute of Wonder by Lisa NicolLisa (Puffin) PB RRP $16.99 ISBN 9781761041556

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Lisa Nicol, an Australian author, has written two earlier children’s novels which this reviewer loved: Dr Boogaloo and the Girl Who Lost her Laughter, and Vincent and the Grandest Hotel on Earth, so her third novel was certainly enticing. 

Like the others, The What on Earth Institute of Wonder is filled with larger-than-life, eccentric characters and rich, quirky language.

The unexpected arrival of Hector, a ‘plump and portly’ New Zealand parrot, and an elephant, into the small, unlucky town of Larry, home of a sewerage plant, is the starting point of this madcap novel. The elephant is herded into and trapped in the town’s mail-sorting warehouse. There it attracts world-wide attention, including that of twelve-year-old Sal, who can talk to and understand Hector, Sal's younger doomsday prepper brother Rob, and their teenage neighbour, Bartholomew. Sal has always had an affinity with animals – especially the lost kind. But when these two rare and endangered creatures appear out of nowhere, life takes a detour into strange and uncharted territory. How the three children deal with the animal problem forms the core of this character-filled novel: it is a mind-boggling expedition into the secrets of the animal kingdom.

Nicol has a wildly vivid imagination which informs her characters and her story’s plot. Phrases are strikingly original, such as ‘Sal and Roy’s dad had up and left as unexpectedly as finding a severed finger in your soup,’ ‘…the tree came to life like a busy department store with a half-priced sale’, and ‘the moon floated in the sky like a humungous gargantuan overgrown grape.’ (The moon features in the story as Sal and Roy’s somewhat deranged mother is obsessed with it, so much so she forgets to mother her children).

At one point, Sal says, ‘Life itself is one big mystery’ which helps to explain what happens in this book that celebrates the unusual. Overall, it is a timely story about family, belonging, overcoming obstacles, finding your own voice, and the importance of the natural world.

Especially for readers aged 9+ years, this is a weird, riveting novel.

Vincent and the Grandest Hotel on Earth

Vincent and the Grandest Hotel on Earth by Lisa Nicol (Puffin Books) PB RRP $16.99

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

By the end of the three-page preface this novel for readers 9 to 12 years had me hooked. The preface’s narrator is the book’s author who introduces the story in a quirky, humorous style which makes you want to read on. The author often refers to her ‘co-author’ and it’s a surprise (and sad) to read at the end of the book who the co-author was.

The main character in Vincent and the Grandest Hotel on Earth is Vincent who has a younger sister Rose (who calls herself Marilyn as she aspires to being a movie star) and an even younger brother Thom who has behavioural problems that fully claim his parents’ attention (and money) as they try to find a cure for what ails him.

The story begins with Vincent being willed a shoe-shine kit by his late grandfather and sees him being employed by the grandest hotel in the world. Young Florence, at eleven, the same age as Vincent, whose family owns the grand hotel, and Rupert the concierge, hire Vincent. He’s taken on a guided tour of the hotel’s grounds where guests arrive by hot-air balloon. There is everything (and more) in the grounds with its own heavily stocked zoo filled with exotic animals. Rupert takes Vincent and other guests, including Max, a maddening young juvenile delinquent, on a tour of the Grand. 

They are introduced to a colony of sloths, Vincent’s favourite animal, as well as swimming pools, a bowling alley, roller skating rink, outdoor chest board and more (including the Junkyard of Broken and Abandoned Dreams).

All through this richly imaginative and absurd tale, the author’s voice interrupts the story’s action with asides and explanations, making the reader feel as though she is fully immersed in what’s happening. The story is filled with many memorable sentences and phrases such as ‘he fell into the armchair like a tangle of freshly cooked spaghetti into a bowl’ and ‘he stretched the truth like a piece of bubble gum.’ The characters, too, are brought vividly to life.  

The first half of the book is fantastical, the second, when Vincent returns home, having been sacked by Florence, is realistic. Like the beginning, there is much appeal to the reader’s emotions.

This book is sure to win awards, including children’s choice book awards. It is highly recommended.

Dr Boogoloo and the Girl who lost her Laughter

Dr Boogoloo and the Girl who lost her Laughter by Lisa Nicol (Random House Australia) HB RRP $19.99 ISBN 978014 3782599

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Blue is a girl whose name keeps changing depending on the moods and interests of her largely absent mother. Blue's father is absent, too, and only occasionally available via Skype. Blue is ‘blue’ as she’s often alone; this is no doubt due to her lonely life and is responsible for her losing her laughter – a condition that’s persisted for 712 days. 

Mr Boogaloo, on the other hand, whose clinic is called Boogaloo Family Clinic of Musical Cures, is a jovial chap whose aim in life is to help others. His patients include Charlie whose head is ‘filled with mean, nasty thoughts’ and Dan Mutter who has the delicate problem of always forgetting to wear underpants to school. Boogaloo’s usual remedy is to play music – such as calypso tune played on bagpipes or music from a flumpet, flugelhorn and fujara. Any problem can be solved with music rather than pills according to Boogaloo!

Blue’s case is exceptional, so, after her mother takes her to the esteemed doctor hoping for a cure, Boogladoo’s indispensable wife Bessie who has ‘a fairy-floss cloud of mandarin-orange hair’ and whose skirts house a small family of pygmy possums, is Blue’s first port of call. She takes the small girl on her magical bicycle which looks as if an entire orchestra of instruments have collapsed on top, to the Snorkel Porkel Crumpety Worpel Laughter Clinic where Blue’s therapy begins. Because Blue’s condition is ultra-serious, a cure must be worked at. Hence there’s much effort expended by many laughter performers and much more.

This is a book which is filled with colourful and often invented language (as well as musical instruments). Every moment offers imaginative actions as well as characters which are unusual, awe-inspiring (such as the enormous blues-singing whale, Leonard) and downright amusing. Any child from 8 to 11 years, who likes to be entertained and have their imagination stretched, is sure to enjoy this charming, often humorous and fast-paced, quirky tale.

Rights have been sold to a musical based on this middle-grade novel by writer/filmmaker, Lisa Nicol which should be interesting as there are lots of weird musical instruments and personalities featured.

Dr Boogoloo and the Girl who lost her Laughter

Dr Boogoloo and the Girl who lost her Laughter by Lisa Nicol (Random House Australia) HB RRP $19.99 ISBN 978014 3782599

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Blue is a girl whose name keeps changing depending on the moods and interests of her largely absent mother. Blue's father is absent, too, and only occasionally available via Skype. Blue is ‘blue’ as she’s often alone; this is no doubt due to her lonely life and is responsible for her losing her laughter – a condition that’s persisted for 712 days. 

Mr Boogaloo, on the other hand, whose clinic is called Boogaloo Family Clinic of Musical Cures, is a jovial chap whose aim in life is to help others. His patients include Charlie whose head is ‘filled with mean, nasty thoughts’ and Dan Mutter who has the delicate problem of always forgetting to wear underpants to school. Boogaloo’s usual remedy is to play music – such as calypso tune played on bagpipes or music from a flumpet, flugelhorn and fujara. Any problem can be solved with music rather than pills according to Boogaloo!

Blue’s case is exceptional, so, after her mother takes her to the esteemed doctor hoping for a cure, Boogladoo’s indispensable wife Bessie who has ‘a fairy-floss cloud of mandarin-orange hair’ and whose skirts house a small family of pygmy possums, is Blue’s first port of call. She takes the small girl on her magical bicycle which looks as if an entire orchestra of instruments have collapsed on top, to the Snorkel Porkel Crumpety Worpel Laughter Clinic where Blue’s therapy begins. Because Blue’s condition is ultra-serious, a cure must be worked at. Hence there’s much effort expended by many laughter performers and much more.

This is a book which is filled with colourful and often invented language (as well as musical instruments). Every moment offers imaginative actions as well as characters which are unusual, awe-inspiring (such as the enormous blues-singing whale, Leonard) and downright amusing. Any child from 8 to 11 years, who likes to be entertained and have their imagination stretched, is sure to enjoy this charming, often humorous and fast-paced, quirky tale.

Rights have been sold to a musical based on this middle-grade novel by writer/filmmaker, Lisa Nichol which should be interesting as there are lots of weird musical instruments and personalities featured.