Piggins

My four children (girls and boys), grown now, ALL loved this book. That speaks for itself. I enjoyed it too, even over many many readings. As previous reviewers have said, the humour and fantastic detailed illustrations, make Piggins a pleasure for grown ups too.

Piggins is one of those rare gems: A book interesting and simple enough for very young children to enjoy (ages 3-4), with more subtlety in the text and especially in the exquisitely detailed and humorous illustrations. The adult will also enjoy the story for the beauty of the illustrations, the tongue in cheek wit, and the delight of reading and rereading and re-examining the illustrations to catch the clues to the "who was the thief?" mystery within the story. We read this with my 8 nieces and nephews age 1-21 and all enjoyed it. It seems we still can find a new little gem in the details on every rereading. For a beautifully illustrated and gently humorous story that is very different than the run of the mill read aloud story, every family should own this. I recommend it for a gift to families with a new baby. Parents as well as the kids will love it!

My 4 year old daughter really enjoys the three mysteries written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Jane Dyer in the Piggins series, but "Piggins" is her most favorite. I often catch her flipping through the pages by herself in a quiet corner telling the story to herself. Dyer's illustrations are colorful and detailed. There are many things for a small child to look at. Yolen's story is as usual, a great read and keeps my daughter's attention the whole story (well, expect for when she starts asking questions!) Thank goodness the book came out in paperback, as the book is constantly in circulation at our local library. We now have all three Piggins Stories in our bookcase!

This is a children's picture book written in the classic English Manor House Mystery style-- complete with a dinner party, distinguished guests, missing jewels and, of course, the butler, Piggins. I won't give away who "did it," but kids will have fun solving the mystery as you read the book to them. Part of the fun is looking at all the details in the drawings of the house. I highly recommend this book.