Parents' Guide to

Pigsty

By Sally Snyder, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Kids delight in the pigs and their messiness.

Book Mark Teague Picture Book 1994
Pigsty Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 2+

Based on 1 parent review

mommieoftwo
mommieoftwo Parent of 2 and 2-year-old
April 24, 2010
age 2+

A really cute way to introduce cleaning or cleanup to the little ones.

My son loves this book, I have read it to him since he was a newborn. He loves to point to shapes that he finds on each page.

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What's the Story?

Pigs, pigs, pigs! Pigs lying on the bed. Pigs performing music. Pigs playing Monopoly. Wendell's messy room lures one pig, then others--all of them messier than he is. This hilarious story answers the question, "What happens if a child never cleans his room?"

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (1):

As an enjoyable read-aloud, this straightforward but humorous story will delight both adults and children. Parents who have ever called their child's room a pigsty -- and children who have ever wished their parents would stop nagging them to clean it up -- can enjoy seeing both ideas carried to a silly extreme.

Mark Teague wisely has Wendell take responsibility for solving his own problem, though the pigs acknowledge their role in creating the mess and help clean the room. Though his conflict with his mother and the turmoil that precedes the resolution are painfully realistic, the story's silliness and the appeal of the friendly pigs prevent the lesson from becoming too obvious. Teague's colorful, eye-catching acrylic illustrations fill every other page, and an occasional two-page picture draws the reader into the messy room. Though Wendell appears stiff in some illustrations, small touches, such as a farm-truck license plate that reads "EIEIO," will delight observant children.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about conflict resolution and self-reliance in problem solving. Can you think of a time when you came up with a solution to a difficult situation on your own? When is it OK to ask for help, and when should you try to tackle problems by yourself?

Book Details

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