Begin with the cover - you can see the ribbons awarded to Anton, his neat clothing and perfectly combed hair. Perfect order is implied by the graph paper used to fill the word PIG. But wait something is not quite right. There are problems with the word perfect. The "R" is hanging by a thread; the "f" is in lower case and the "T" is about to fall of the cover. Perhaps Anton is not quite so perfect?
Taking a close look at Anton's room on the first page it is clear he enjoys keeping everything in his life in strict order. He has his three ribbons on his wall, three first place ribbons, to prove he most certainly is a perfect pig! His books are perfectly arranged. His hats and bow ties are neatly placed on the shelf. There is also a hint, thought, that Anton does have a soft side - we can see his little teddy bear lying on the bed.
As we read on we discover he is also kind and a generous friend. It is Lola's birthday and even though Anton does not like surprises he knows Lola will love a surprise party! There will be a lot to organise in a short time. The only cake left at the bakery is a wedding cake. It is now raining and Anton is getting soaked. His beautiful bicycle is covered in mud. It is a disaster.
"His eye won't stop twitching and his stomach feels like a big rolling barrel of worries. He grabs the cake but his feel get tangled in the fairy lights."
Of course it all turns out okay in the end. Lola love the crazy mess and everyone joins in with the dancing. Oh and his eye stops twitching.
Pig has a generous heart. Young readers will enjoy the impending sense of disaster as we watch our Pig hero load a tiered wedding cake onto his bicycle. There is a lesson here perhaps about the genuine surprises that life can provide. The inclusion of the bold and fun fonts, provide an emphasis to some words. The font changes links neatly with Anton's twisty tail. The final page turn is perfect. The end papers reflect the order Pig enjoys in this life at the beginning and the little touch of graffiti at the end adds a fun twist. The cross reference to the white rabbit and his all-important pocket watch from Alice in wonderland will be appreciated by adults who share this book with young children. The digital watch displaying the word late is also a clever touch.
The word choices, skilled use of digital illustrations, choices of fonts, and other design elements become gradually more and more chaotic as Anton’s day progresses, creating some perfect changes in pace and mood.
This story has a joyful energy and a warm heart. The wonderful thing is, despite the challenges, Anton never gives up because he wants to surprise his friend.
Here is the web site for the author/illustrator Katrin Dreiling. Read more about the process of making this book here.
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