Pig-Boy: A Trickster Tale from Hawai'i [Hardcover]

Gerald McDermott (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Product Description
Pig-Boy is hairy. Pig-Boy is dirty. Pig-Boy is hungry! And when trouble comes, he knows just what to do. (Of course, escaping trouble comes easily to a trickster, who can shape-shift his way out of sticky situations just in time!). With the tropical colors and cadences of the islands, master artist and storyteller Gerald McDermott brings irrepressible humor and energy to a Hawaiian trickster tale that's been beloved for generations. Includes an author's note.

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A Look Inside Pig-Boy: A Trickster Tale from Hawai'i
(Click on Images to Enlarge)

Meet Pig-Boy	Pig-Boy and the chickens

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From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3–McDermott continues his series of trickster tales with a simply told story about Kamapua'a, a popular figure in Hawaiian mythology. This little pig has a loving, nurturing human grandmother who wraps him in soft leaves and sings him to sleep with an empowering song about magic. '…if trouble comes,' she tells him, 'just slip away.' Pig-Boy's hunger is immense. He eats all the roots in his grandmother's taro patch, then eats the king's chickens, divides himself into a hundred little piglets, and slips away. He looks to the goddess Pele for help, and when she rejects him, he shape-shifts into a pig-nosed fish and evades her, as well. Captured by the king's men, he again uses his powerful magic to escape and return to his dear grandmother. McDermott has omitted the torrid sexual relationship between Kamapua'a (in human form) and Pele that is an integral part of the traditional tale. Although this somewhat weakens the plot, it has allowed him to create a charming story that is clearly meant to be shared by adult and young child. Boldly colored gouache paintings on textured paper are softened with pastel and detailed with colored pencil. The purple trickster pig stands out against backgrounds of emerald green. People and chickens wear yellow-gold and orange, and the sea is a deep, bright blue. A note about the Pig-Boy character is included. This fine introduction to a classic Hawaiian trickster should have a place in most collections.–Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (April 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152165908
• ISBN-13: 978-0152165901
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 11.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #473,287 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Pig-Boy: A Trickester Tale from Hawaii, August 8, 2009

By 

B. Mackay "Coondawg" (Rural UT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pig-Boy: A Trickster Tale from Hawai'i (Hardcover)

We love this author. It teaches my son about other cultures and thier stories. My six year old made me read this book only at bed time for a month.

5.0 out of 5 stars Tells of a hairy, dirty and hungry pig-boy talented at slipping away through the use of magic, June 18, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pig-Boy: A Trickster Tale from Hawai'i (Hardcover)

Gerald McDermott's Trickster tale from Hawaii, PIG-BOY tells of a hairy, dirty and hungry pig-boy talented at slipping away through the use of magic. An engaging series of unexpected encounters makes for an unexpected tale.

4.0 out of 5 stars Another McDermott charmer, April 30, 2009

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Backroads "Scatter-brained book fan" (Cache Valley, Utah) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pig-Boy: A Trickster Tale from Hawai'i (Hardcover)

I don't know if this would be the ultimate Gerald McDermott experience, but this is truly a pleasure to read with gorgeous illustrations. There is less storyline here and more of a musing of Hawaii and some of its culture and folklore. Which is really all one needs. Thoroughly entertaining and necessary for any McDermott fan.