This Little Piggy

This Little Piggy, an INDESTRUCTIBLES® title, is just that: indestructible. Meant to engage our youngest readers as they use their whole bodies to experience a book, the INDESTRUCTIBLES® titles are “chew proof, rip proof, nontoxic and 100% washable”. Unlike paper books which might easily tear or degrade, these books hold up to baby’s love. Because the material they are made of (high density polyethylene) is recyclable only in certain specialized locations, it might be best when your child outgrows this book to then wash it off and pass it on to a friend. With these books, reuse is particularly important.

This title, in particular, features an inclusive cast of piggies as they go from market to kitchen to get ready for dinner. The familiar rhyme is deepened by the inclusion of a piggy using a wheelchair (“This little piggy stayed home”) and the familial ties that bind everyone together at the end. The saturated colors and pleasing geometric shapes make for a pleasant visual experience. My own daughter enjoyed pointing to each of the familiar items that illustrator Vanja Kragulj includes (a cat, a tomato, a bicycle helmet), and proudly naming them.

The series would do well to note that the books’ titles being written in all capital letters somewhat undermines their early literacy mission. Text, even for our youngest citizens, should obey usage and style rules unless a clear purpose or culture is being referenced. Nevertheless, This Little Piggy makes a cheerful addition to the nursery bookshelf.