Pig the Fibber

Pig the Fibber by Aaron Blabey (Scholastic Press)

HB RRP $16.99

ISBN 978-1-74362-906-2

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Pig the Pug is back. After his comeuppance last time he is still greedy, but now he has learned to be sneaky as well and tells lies in order to blame everything on his friend, the long suffering Trevor.

‘Why do you do this?’

Asked poor little Trevor.

‘I thought we were friends.’

But Pig said, ‘Whatever.

Pig the Fibber lives up to the standard of Pig the Pug. Totally cheeky, totally fun and with a rollicking rhythm which makes the words sparkle and bounce off the page. The characters of the two dogs, and the relationship between them comes across loud and clear through both the text and illustration. And the story-line, while conveying the important themes of truthfulness and friendship, does not feel moralistic.

Blabey’s illustrations are humorous, bold and expressive, and add story to the words. Preschool children will easily ‘read’ the pictures but I’m sure their adult readers will be happy to read it to them over and over again.

I am a huge fan of Aaron Blabey and cannot wait to see what he produces next.

Pig the Pug

Pig the Pug by Aaron Blabey (Scholastic Press)

HB RRP $16.99

ISBN 978-1-74362-477-7

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

This is an absolutely delightful book. Pig is a pug dog who will not share. He is selfish and rude and in the end receives his comeuppance in a most unexpected, humorous and satisfying way.

Told in rhyme which rolls off the tongue smoothly, the sing-song rhythm creates an atmosphere of immediacy and just begs to be read aloud over and over again.

    He lived in a flat

    with sausage dog, Trevor.

    But when was he nice to him?

    I’ll tell you – NEVER.

Young children will identify with the behaviours displayed by both Pig and Trevor, recognising which ones are unreasonable and antisocial.

The illustrations are big and bold and funny. Trevor with his glorious toothy smile will grab hearts immediately, while fat wrinkly Pig with his big eyes and big frown hugs his bowl of food or toys to his chest. It is a story which could be followed through the pictures alone which emphasise the humour of the text on every page. I cannot remember loving an ending to a picture book more and the concept that pigs cannot fly is used so effectively without it feeling like a cliché.

Ultimately a story about sharing and bad puppies coming to a sticky ending, this is such a fun book. I giggle each time I get to the end. Children from the age of three and up will appreciate the humour, the concept and the cheekiness of this fabulous rollicking story.