The Giggle Pigs

This characterful paperback is a funny book about some pesky pigs who can’t stop giggling. The basic structure is based on the ‘This little pig went to market….’ poem but with a much more humorous twist. Four little pigs undertake different activities like climbing a mountain or paddling down a river BUT they all have a silly side to them. For example, the mountain isn’t an ordinary mountain but a mountain of underwear which is ‘… quite frilly’ and ‘makes the pigs look silly.’ The river is made of custard so, as you can see, lots of things to appeal to children. Of course, no giggling pigs would be complete without some farts and parps and so other activities involve those things too. Each time the pigs undertake one of these adventures they end up giggling-hence the title of the book. In the end there is a lovely opportunity to review all the different activities as the one pig left goes all the way home back from when she came-there is a great double page spread map to explore here.

It’s a silly story with some lively illustrations which give the pigs great character. Their expressions are fun and they add a vibrancy to the book which would appeal to readers of different ages. The full pages of colour with different font sizes and prints make for an interesting read. There’s lots of onomatopoeia with snorts, snuffles and of course giggles
which make it enjoyable to read aloud. The end really does involve a ‘Tee hee hee and a wee wee wee all the way home!’

The book will make everybody reading it smile and can be enjoyed read aloud, with the familiar structure also supporting independent reading too.