Customer Reviews

Piggins

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a children's picture book written in the classic English Manor House Mystery style-- complete with a dinner party, distinguished guests, missing jewels and, of course, the butler, Piggins. I won't give away who "did it," but kids will have fun solving the mystery as you read the book to them. Part of the fun is looking at all the details in the drawings of the house. I highly recommend this book.

My 4 year old daughter really enjoys the three mysteries written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Jane Dyer in the Piggins series, but "Piggins" is her most favorite. I often catch her flipping through the pages by herself in a quiet corner telling the story to herself. Dyer's illustrations are colorful and detailed. There are many things for a small child to look at. Yolen's story is as usual, a great read and keeps my daughter's attention the whole story (well, expect for when she starts asking questions!) Thank goodness the book came out in paperback, as the book is constantly in circulation at our local library. We now have all three Piggins Stories in our bookcase!

What a charming way to introduce the little ones to the concept of mystery novels such as those written by Agatha Christe. Here we have the classical closed room mystery (without any murder of course) set in Edwardian times. In this story though, the butler most certainly did not do it as it is the butler, Piggins who solves the mystery.

I would hate to call this one a parody, but in a way it is, since to parody something the audience really must know what is being parodied. It is doubtful if the age group to which this story is targeted has read many Christe novels. On the other hand, any adult reading the book to or with the child will pick up on it immediately.

The characters in this story are all animals; English animals dressed in typical clothing of the Edwardian era. The artist, Jane Dyer, has done a wonderfully detailed and colorful job of this. Each of the animals more or less portrays an individual who perfectly matches what ever critter is used. The use of a pig; Piggins in this case, fits perfectly. You have never seen such a dignified pig in your life. Foxes, rats, rabbits, bloodhounds, and turtles all have their part.

The text is quite well done and the mystery (A stolen diamond lavaliere in this case) is well developed and if the reader is attentive enough, a few clues (not too obvious) have been laid out in nice form.

Even without the illustrations though, the art work in this one is well worth the price of the book. It is one of those that offer pictures with so much detail that each time the child reads the book, something new will be found or noticed.

All in all this is a truly fun book to read.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

The illustrations in this book begin and end with a dollhouse-like setting, where every room is open to view, all the scenes are described, and the characters are introduced.

This is an enjoyable mystery book, solvable from the clues given, and interesting to read. It is better than your average pig storybook.

The animals' expressions are perfect. GREAT illustrations. This book hits all the right notes.

My four children (girls and boys), grown now, ALL loved this book. That speaks for itself.

I enjoyed it too, even over many many readings. As previous reviewers have said, the humour and fantastic detailed illustrations, make Piggins a pleasure for grown ups too.

Piggins is one of those rare gems: A book interesting and simple enough for very young children to enjoy (ages 3-4), with more subtlety in the text and especially in the exquisitely detailed and humorous illustrations. The adult will also enjoy the story for the beauty of the illustrations, the tongue in cheek wit, and the delight of reading and rereading and re-examining the illustrations to catch the clues to the "who was the thief?" mystery within the story.
We read this with my 8 nieces and nephews age 1-21 and all enjoyed it. It seems we still can find a new little gem in the details on every rereading. For a beautifully illustrated and gently humorous story that is very different than the run of the mill read aloud story, every family should own this. I recommend it for a gift to families with a new baby. Parents as well as the kids will love it!