But there is no treachery here. There is only Funny. And clever. And sweet. And massive smiles bumped around a little by hearty guffaws.
From the smile-curling cover through the endpaper with 'PIG' flagrantly scrawled on a official-looking This Book Belongs To bookplate, the swiftly-moving storyline and priceless ending, this is one humdinger of a canine romp.
Pig is a selfish pug. Piggish, even. Poor old sausage dog Trevor cops the brunt of his greed--over food and most especially over toys. When the ever-patient Trevor suggests 'sharing' the toys because it might be fun, Pig flips his wig and goes into a maniacal rant bordering despot-like behaviour. Honestly, it's just so much fun, you'll squeak like the rubber toys piled high and squashed under the pug's considerable weight.
As is so appreciated in books that refuse to be openly didactic, Pig gets his comeuppance in the most glorious, amusing way--and Blabey's reference to pigs being unable to fly is one of the most memorable picture book lines ever.
Brilliant, vividly funny illustrations make this a true all-rounder of a picture book that will have every reader, regardless of age, both laughing with delight, and wanting to adopt that crazy pug and his good friend Trevor.
Hoping Pig turns up again. Hint hint.
Title: Pig the Pug
Author/Illustrator: Aaron Blabey
Publisher: Scholastic, $16.99 RRP
Publication Date: 1 July 2014
Format: Hard cover
ISBN: 9781743624777
For ages: 3 - 10
Type: Picture Book
