Captain Small Pig

by Martin Waddell, Susan Varley (Illustrator)

Overview

A charming story of family and a day on the water.

Out on Blue Lake with his parents Old Goat and Turkey, Small Pig is ready for an adventure.

"I'm Captain Commander!" Small Pig said.
"Aye aye, Captain Small Pig!" yawned Old Goat. "You are in charge of this boat!"

But Small Pig soon tires of rowing and falls asleep. Before they know it, the boat is drifting across the lake, and grumpy Turkey is in for a soaking!

Martin Waddell's quirky tale and charming characters, coupled with Susan Varley's evocative illustrations, makes for a gentle, delightful story filled with quiet adventure.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781682630945
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	03/20/2018
Sold by:	Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	5 MB
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Martin Waddell is the acclaimed author of more than one hundred books for children. He received the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2004 and is a two-time winner of the Smarties Book Prize. He lives in Northern Ireland.

Susan Varley is the award-winning illustrator of numerous books for children. She is also the author-illustrator of Badger's Parting Gifts, which has sold more than a half a million copies worldwide and received numerous awards. Varley lives in England.

Editorial Reviews

Three distinct personalities emerge in Waddell's (The Super Hungry Dinosaur) story of a day spent on the lake. Small Pig is thrilled about going for a row in a boat. Turkey is less enthusiastic (“Turkeys don't go in boats”), but he acquiesces, following the lead of Old Goat, who says, “Neither do goats,” as he climbs aboard. Throughout the day, this pattern repeats, with Old Goat's patience balancing Turkey's grouchiness. When Small Pig wants to fish for whales, Turkey snaps that there are no whales in the lake, while Old Goat concedes, “There might be a very small whale.” Though the relationship between the characters is left open-ended, Turkey and Old Goat play parental roles, and readers may recognize their own guardians' temperaments in the older characters. Though Turkey tumbles into the water as they dock the boat, Small Pig has a perfect day. Despite the gentle domestic squabbling, the animals' love for Small Pig is abundantly evident in Varley's (The Monster Bed) light-infused pen-and-ink art, which emphasizes the tenderness of their interactions and the tranquility of the setting. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

Old Goat (comfortably amiable), Turkey (a bit of a gloomy Gus) and Small Pig (enthusiasm incarnate) find a red boat and go rowing on Blue Lake. Small Pig wants to fish for whales, so Old Goat ties a string to an oar for him-but Small Pig only catches a boot. Next he wants to row by himself: "I'm Captain Commander!" Before long Small Pig announces he's too tired to row any more, and Old Goat tells him to keep his hand on the tiller and let the boat drift. As the moon rises, all three are asleep until Old Goat wakes, rows back to the dock and upsets the boat, but Small Pig continues to dream of being Captain. Varley's skillfully composed pen-and-ink illustrations lend an old-fashioned feeling to this gentle story, enlivening it with details like blue ticking on pillows and endpapers. Turkey wears a hat and vest, and Old Goat wears a white shirt and striped knickers, while Small Pig sports rolled-up pants and a polo shirt. This is an affectionate nod to friendship between ages (and types). (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews

"Captain Small Pig will entice readers with its droll characterizations and splendid pictures."—School Library Journal

★ "This book pleases at every level."—Booklist, Starred Review

"Skillfully composed pen-and-ink illustrations lend an old-fashioned feeling to this gentle story, enlivening it with details"—Kirkus Reviews

"The animals' love for Small Pig is abundantly evident in Varley's light-infused pen-and-ink art, which emphasizes the tenderness of their interactions and the tranquility of the setting."—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

PreS-Gr 1—Waddell and Varley take readers on an enjoyable excursion. Old Goat and Turkey—acting like a snappish uncle and a patient grandfather—take Small Pig to the lake, where the youngster expresses an ardent desire that they go rowing. "'Turkeys don't go in boats,' Turkey said. 'Neither do goats,' said Old Goat, but he climbed into the boat, and they rowed off onto Blue Lake." This pattern repeats: Small Pig makes a wish, Turkey responds negatively, and Old Goat patiently indulges him. The sun sets, the moon rises, and Little Pig falls asleep—and oh yes—Turkey falls into the water as Old Goat is mooring the rowboat. While the linear narrative may, for some, raise expectations of a more substantial story, this title succeeds simply as a glimpse into a child's world. Varley's gently colored pen and ink drawings have a touch of Beatrix Potter-style magic, though the use of white background in some of the night scenes is confusing. Despite minor imperfections, Captain Small Pig will entice readers with its droll characterizations and splendid pictures.—Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY

School Library Journal