Pug & Pig and Friends by Sue Lowell Gallion and Joyce Wan, Simon & Schuster
Pug & Pig and Friends is one of the most uplifting books we own. From its bright yellow cover to its adorable animals and their hilarious antics, this is guaranteed to raise the spirits of anyone who encounters it. We love the bold illustrations and the simple but incredibly entertaining story which always evokes lots of laughter, no matter how often it's read.
Following on from the equally heartwarming Pug Meets Pig and Pug & Pig: Trick or Treat, this introduces even more lovable pals: Squirrel, Robin and Cat. We see how Pug, Pig, Squirrel and Robin enjoy racing around the garden together, while Cat prefers to conserve her energy and play tricks on an unsuspecting Pug.
When Cat gets stuck in a tree during a storm, Pug must make a choice. Will he finally get revenge for all Cat’s fun at his expense, or will he rescue her instead? Perhaps Pug can find a way to do both at once!
It's impressive how so much emotion is conveyed by each image. From delight at playing together, to the terror of being caught in a storm, we always know how each character is feeling. There’s so much movement and energy in each scene, and Cat’s mischief and Pug’s subsequent alarm are brilliantly brought to life. It also has to be acknowledged just how cute and charming these animals are - you just want to cuddle them!
This is also a gorgeous celebration of friendship and how, despite their ups and downs, true pals are constantly there for one another. Whether we need them to get us out of a fix or help us to take ourselves less seriously, real friends can always be relied on... even if they are annoying at times!
Pug is an excellent role model; although he has an opportunity to get even with Cat, he doesn’t leave her stranded. Cat in turn sees what it’s like to be Pug and on the receiving end of pranks. Pug and Cat's interactions will help children with irritating siblings or classmates become more tolerant and show those who tease others that their actions have consequences.
We’ve been really enjoying the first and second books in this series too; you can see their covers below and I’ll share reviews of them soon. My kids are aged six and four. Although I thought the eldest would be too old for Pug and Pig, I was pleasantly surprised by how much they both love them. My six-year-old likes being able to understand lots of the words and these are great books for beginner readers to explore by themselves. As there’s very little text on each page and the images are so bold and colourful, this series is also ideal for babies and toddlers. Pug and Pig’s world is so cheerful and such a wonderful place to visit, I hope there’ll be more adventures featuring Pug, Pig and their pals soon.
Pug & Pig and Friends was published by Simon & Schuster on 17th August - see this book on the publisher's website
About the author:
As the daughter of a printer, Sue Lowell Gallion has a life-long love of type, paper, and books. Sue is the author of the Pug and Pig picture book series and All Except Axle, among others. She lives in Leawood, Kansas, with a black lab mix who is not a pug. See more of her work at suegallion.com.
About the illustrator:
Joyce Wan is the author and illustrator of several picture books, including Pug Meets Pig, Pug & Pig Trick-or-Treat, Sleepyheads, Greetings from Kiwi and Pear, You Are My Cupcake, and We Belong Together. She also runs a design studio whose stationery and gift products are sold worldwide. Joyce lives with her husband in New York City. Visit her at wanart.com.
A huge thanks to the lovely people in Blue Slip Media for sharing this story, and the earlier titles in the series, with us. We absolutely love Pug and Pig, as well as all their friends, and will treasure each book. All opinions expressed are our own.
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