Aaron Blabey, Pig the Winner, Scholastic Australia, 1 March 2016, 24pp., $16.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781760154288
Pig the pug is back again! This time his obnoxious behaviour is all about sportsmanship – bad sportsmanship. He just has to win, at any cost. He cheats, he sooks, he throws tantrums – anything to be the winner. Poor Trevor is on the losing end in more ways than one. Of course, he once again gets his comeuppance but we know from experience that, even though on the surface Pig might seem reformed, he never really learns his lesson.
For those who haven’t heard of Pig the pug (seriously, where have you been?), Pig the Winner is the third book in the series. I was so excited to receive this book to review – I rushed it straight to my library to share it with my students. The rhyming text is so much fun to read aloud, children of all ages will be totally rapt throughout. Then there are the fabulous pictures. Blabey manages to deliver so much emotion and energy. Readers are invited to interact with the characters through the visual technique of demand. We empathise with Trevor as he looks at us directly, sharing a knowing look. Then, at the end, Pig sneaks a look at us, knowing we can see what Trevor cannot.
Apart from a fun read, this text is also a springboard for much discussion about playing fairly and winning or losing with grace. Highly recommended for read aloud and early readers, also a fabulous visual literacy text for older readers. Learn more about Aaron Blabey and his work on his facebook page or at his site.
Reviewed by Sharon Seymour