Books about pigs
Pigs are often described as one of the most intelligent animals, so maybe that's why they've inspired countless children's books.
From their curly tails to their oink oink sounds and their love of rolling in mud, they're perfect for picture books. But slightly older readers have also warmed to the brave exploits of swine in classics like Charlotte's Web and The Sheep-Pig.
So in celebration of this magnificent animal - and National Pig Day, of course - we've collected together just some of our favourite stories about hogs.
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The Sheep-Pig
Author: Dick King-Smith Illustrator: Mike Terry
Publisher: Penguin
Interest age: 6+
Reading age: 7+When Farmer Hogget wins a piglet at the fair, he is amazed that Fly, his sheep-dog, welcomes him as one of her own pups.
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Don't Lose Pigley, Wibbly Pig!
Author: Mick Inkpen
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 5+Wibbly Pig and Pigley have just left a party and Wibbly's desperate to discover what's inside the mysterious parcel in his party bag.
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Lady Lollipop
Author: Dick King-Smith Illustrator: Jill Barton
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 7+
Reading age: 7+A spoilt princess demands to have Lollipop the pig as her eighth birthday present. Lollipop and his trainer, Johnny Skinner, then have to teach the princess how to behave.
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Hide-and-Seek Pig
Author: Julia Donaldson Illustrator: Axel Scheffler
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Interest age: 1+
Reading age: 5+Help Pig find Hen by lifting the flaps on each page in this fun game of hide and seek.
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Bumble-Ardy
Author: Maurice Sendak
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 6+Sendak explores the joyfulness and anarchic spirit of young children
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You're a Rude Pig, Bertie!
Author: Claudia Boldt
Publisher: Jonathan Cape
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 6+Bertie is a rude pig. He insults all the other animals, whilst all the time thinking what a magnificent and beautiful piglet he is. Then he meets cute rabbit Ruby.
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Charlotte's Web
Author: E B White Illustrator: Garth Williams
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 6+
Reading age: 7+This is the tale of how a little girl named Fern - with the help of a friendly talking spider called Charlotte - saved her pig, Wilbur, from the usual fate of nice fat little pigs.
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The Unbelievable Top Secret Diary of Pig
Author: Emer Stamp
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 7+
Reading age: 7+Pig is quite happy on the farm - until Duck reveals the terrible truth that Farmer doesn't love him at all and is simply fattening him up to become his dinner.
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Freddy and the Pig
Author: Charlie Higson Illustrator: Mark Chambers
Publisher: Red Squirrel Books
Interest age: 4+
Freddy hates school and thinks that it is boring, but he comes up with clever plan. The dyslexia-friendly features make this book highly accessible.
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A Piglet Called Truffle
Author: Helen Peters Illustrator: Ellie Snowdon
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Interest age: 6+
Reading age: 7+When Jasmine discovers a helpless piglet, she takes it upon herself to make sure it has a chance. But will Truffle be allowed to stay with Jasmine for good? This short, sweet story of a little girl looking after the runt of the litter is a perfect early reader.
