The adventures of Pongo and Stink by Lisa Nicol. Illus. by Karen Blair

Pongo and Stink are two endearing pet pigs who live in a barn owned by Farmer Nic. They both long for a better life, one that involves being fed and treated as well as the farm dog Rollo. Pongo comes up with a plan for them both to disguise themselves as dogs. To do this they need to go into town and find some dog suits. Sure enough this plan goes well, and they get the taste of a dog’s life. They successfully fool humans, including Farmer Nic. He feeds them all sorts of delicious things, and they can sleep inside by the fire. However their efforts to behave as real dogs can’t be sustained. A fox and the farm dog, Rollo, see through their pretence. And their innate pig behaviours, such as their love of food and mud, can’t be restrained and soon put an end to their life as dogs.

This delightful fun story by Lisa Nicol is nicely illustrated by Karen Blair. Pongo is a pretentious, confident risk-taker while Stink is more stuck in his ways and nervous about Pongo’s outlandish plans. They are great friends who support each other despite their quite different personalities. The Adventures of Pongo and Stink will make a great read aloud for a family or an early years class, as well as being suitable for young independent readers. There’s plenty to laugh about with “pigs being pigs” and fart jokes in abundance. I enjoyed the many parts where the pigs realise they need to behave like dogs, such as how to wee like a dog or the need to shake after being drenched. Readers who enjoy the rural setting and feel-good qualities of this story may like to follow up with the classic The Sheep-Pig (Babe) by Dick King-Smith.

Themes: Farms, Dogs, Pigs, Friendship.

Jo Marshall