Piggybook

Anthony Browne's Piggybook is a picture book for 5 year olds about a family who treat their mum like a servant, until she's had enough.

What happens

Mr Piggott lives with his two sons, Simon and Patrick, in a nice house with a nice garden and a nice car in the nice garage. And inside the house is his wife.

Every morning it's "Hurry up with the breakfast." Every evening it's "Hurry up with the meal." Mr Piggott even calls her "old girl".

In between, Mrs Piggott washes up, makes all the beds and vacuums all the carpets. Then she goes off to work herself!

One evening the boys come home and nobody is there to greet them. There's just an envelope on the mantelpiece.

So the Piggott men have to manage on their own. Meals take hours and taste horrible. Nobody washes anything. Before long the house is a pigsty in more ways than one (listen out for the grunting, snorting and squealing).

It's very funny, and it has a lot to say for such a short book. Children tend to spot the unfairness straight away. Why should one person do everything?

It's a brilliant one for starting a chat about who does the jobs in your house. Don't be surprised if your reader starts keeping score afterwards!

A mum walking out might unsettle a very young or anxious child, so it's a good one to share together the first time. It ends in a happy place, though, and we won't spoil how.

This edition uses American wording, so Mrs Piggott is "Mom" throughout. That's easy to swap as you read aloud.

What to read next

If they like the way Anthony Browne tells a family story, try Anthony Browne's Gorilla next. Hannah's dad is always too busy to spend time with her, until something extraordinary happens the night before her birthday.