Angel Pig and the Hidden Christmas [Hardcover]

Jan Waldron (Author), David McPhail (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1997 | Age Level: 3 and up

'Tis the day before Christmas, the house is a-flutter.The pigs are abuzz cleaning up all the clutter.

David McPhail has created more superb swine, and this time, tinsel and treats are the first things on their little piggie minds. To get ready for Christmas, there's so much to do, and although they're starting a bit late these eager porkers are determined to make this the best holiday ever. But what's this? An empty wallet? No money for gifts! The pigs were despondent, some started to bawl, / "Now we can't go to the outlets and mall / To buy jeans and sneakers with fancy brand names, / And TVs and CDs and video games." To the group of shocked pigs, it looks as though Christmas is doomed before it has even begun. Luckily for them, one divine little pig complete with pink high-top tennis shoes has had her merry eyes on them. Her soothing message comes straight from the true spirit of Christmas: The best gifts of all are not to be found in stores, but in our own homes and hearts. When the piggies are inspired by this angelic emissary to put their best trotters forward, they turn out to be magnificent bakers and makers splendid gift givers in the original tradition. Near midnight, there's only one task left: to find the perfect Christmas tree. When they have bundled up warmly and stepped out into the snow, they discover Angel Pig's most radiant gift to them: a humble tree they have taken for granted, newly transformed by festive winter magic.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Sulking at the realization that they have no money to buy "jeans and sneakers with fancy brand names, / And TVs and CDs and video games," a family of pigs thinks Christmas is doomed. But when an angel pig appears, hovering above the blue chair, shoelace untied, she has some wisdom to offer that may just turn the holiday around for the materialistic swine.

"Angel Pig's message was simple and clear: The magic of Christmas was merrily near."

Soon the piggies are acting on the angelic oinker's words, making paper chains and pencil holders, shiny stars and butterscotch reindeer, and discovering that "the best giving is done with your heart."

The message may not be new, but Jan L. Waldron's refreshing rhyming story with beloved illustrator David McPhail's (Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore!, etc.) expressive pigs and chaotic decorating scenes, brings a whole new buoyancy to the sentiment. Next Christmas forget about gifts of gewgaws and morphing mega-superheroes; how about a good old-fashioned picture book and a butterscotch reindeer instead! (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2. Hooray for McPhail's pigs! Although Waldron gives voice to them here, it's the illustrations that give the porkers their energetic appeal and wonderful silliness. In a variation on "The Night Before Christmas," the pigs discover that they have no money to purchase decorations and gifts: "Now we can't go to the outlets and mall/To buy jeans and sneakers with fancy brand names,/And TVs and CDs and video games." Then, a sneaker-wearing angel pig appears to tell them that there's more to the holiday than material goods: "Christmas means many and various things?/Singing and laughing and green paper rings." Suitably inspired, the swine make and bake and sing and decorate a tree out in the yard. They learn that "The best Christmas of all had been hiding right here." Not exactly an original story line, but the porcine crew in McPhail's signature watercolor and pen-stroke illustrations have personality aplenty, personality galore. Their expressions display a range of emotions from sadness to worry to wonder to joy. Far from being boars, the pigs carry the day.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 24 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1st edition (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525457445
• ISBN-13: 978-0525457442
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,160,767 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Meaning of Christmas, November 15, 2000

By 

Gwendolyn Homicki (Haddam, CT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angel Pig and the Hidden Christmas (Picture Puffins) (Paperback)

David Mcphails wonderful illustrations touch off a tender and amusing story of a Christmas lost and found. When the pigs realize they have no money or 'in-coming pay' they are 'despondent'. The book uses words that increase a childs vocabulary while conveying REAL EMOTION. Angel Pig puts them on a path of discovery as they make gifts with things they found in the house - fabric, paint, clay, boxes etc. and they realize how special it is to give from the heart instead of the wallet. Precious and timely.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas happiness, December 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Angel Pig and the Hidden Christmas (Hardcover)

My children (ages 3 and 5) love this book. The rhyming verse makes it easy to read and the pictures are very colorful and rich with detail. The message in the story is simple enough even for their young minds to understand - we don't have to buy things in order to have a merry Christmas. Instead it comes from doing things together.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rollicking porcine rhyme, May 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Angel Pig and the Hidden Christmas (Hardcover)

This warm Christmas tale was conceived when illustrator David McPhail drew a Christmas card one year of a dear little pig with wings and an over-sized gown. A friend told him to write about her, so he turned to author Jan Waldron, who was further inspired by fond memories of the creative holidays of her childhood.

The collaboration gives birth to the story of the Pig family, who are scurrying around the day before Christmas preparing a long wish list as they head out to do their Christmas shopping. But when they discover that the wallet is empty, their dreams of the "Big Day" are crushed:

"The pigs were despondent, some started to bawl. Now we can't go to the outlets and mall To buy jeans and sneakers with fancy brand names, and TVs and CDs and video games."

Enter the Angel Pig, who teaches the greedy family the true spirit of Christmas in rollicking porcine rhyme. The watercolor pictures, from the cutaway of the snug pig house opposite the title page to the angel's triumphant departure, will delight children of all ages.