Child’s Play ISBN 9781846439308 £5.99
This powerful allegorical tale is not a feel-good book but is one that could lead to poignant discussion and philosophical ideas. The watercolour illustrations are in muted tones and the characters are small and seem to take second place to the landscape and rooms. The overall feeling is one of bleakness and this is the sentiment of the start of the story. It is the story of a friendship between a boy called Henry and a house living pig. The friendship is dominated by Henry who makes all the decisions. Piggy seems to accept this but the illustrations clearly show how small, insignificant and subjugated Piggy is. But when the boy’s cousin comes to stay and play Piggy is temporarily redundant and free to amuse himself. He discovers a freedom outside the house and meets a wild pig who suggests another kind of friendship and way of living. When things return to normal in the house we see in the text and illustrations how unkind the boy knocking over Piggy’s forest and commanding him to watch a puppet show. Piggy ‘had to’ listen to a story and the illustrations paint a very sad picture of lonely, down trodden pig staring out of the window at the world beyond. The story ends with the boy stamping his feet demanding to know, ‘Where is that silly pig?’ and a picture of Piggy running free at the side of his new friend Wild Pig. It is not a cheery read for small children but it would be a super book to share in small groups to discuss the issues of how to be a friend, and how to treat people in general. If you see signs of a ‘Henry’ in your child or someone in your class it may be a good place to start in highlighting the issues raised. Age range: 3-7.
Jane Macleod, Primary Teacher, Fairfield Primary, Penarth
