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Pig Pig

Pig Pig Returns

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Pig Pig doesn't want  to go on a road trip with Aunt Wilma and Uncle Fred! Pig Pig would rather stay home and spend his summer vacation building a rocket ship model or reading back issues of Daring Pig Exploits . Besides, his mother and Fluffy the cat might miss him too much. His uncle insists that this is the opportunity of a lifetime, and soon Pig Pig is enjoying an eye-opening road trip. But he worries—what if his mother and Fluffy don't remember him when he gets back?

This charming and timeless story of trying new things and managing trips away from home and family will delight.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

21 people want to read

About the author

David McPhail

240 books93 followers
David was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts and attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. While there, he began illustrating. He is now an award-winning author and illustrator of nearly 200 books beloved by children, parents and librarians across the United States. McPhail has garnered many prestigious awards, including a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year for Mole Music in 2001. McPhail’s other books include First Flight, which the New York Times praised as “hilarious and helpful”; and Lost!, which was chosen as an American Bookseller Pick of the Lists.

McPhail has four children, three stepchildren, and is a proud grandfather. He is married to Jan Waldron, with whom he has written and illustrated several books. He lives in Rye, New Hampshire.

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5 stars
19 (17%)
4 stars
30 (28%)
3 stars
39 (36%)
2 stars
18 (16%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Profile Image for Jennifer.
4,872 reviews58 followers
February 26, 2019
Pig pig is nervous about taking a trip over the summer with his aunt and uncle. Will his mom rent out his room and forget his favorite meal? Will his cat forget about him? A decent story for helping children address the very real fear and separation anxiety of being away from home for the first time. Not a great group read for story time, but this one would make a great one-on-one read to a nervous kid!
Profile Image for Celine.
176 reviews
March 28, 2022
This is one of those books that isn't bad but for some reason I just didn't enjoy it. The illustrations were cute but the story itself is largely forgettable.
Profile Image for Rose Rosetree.
Author 15 books462 followers
May 26, 2023
Pig Pig begins this story as a reluctant traveler, but by the end?

Joy abounds. And if you've seen rumors of oatmeal, that just might be correct.
Profile Image for Julia Jasztal.
522 reviews
January 31, 2013
Mommy's review from 11/20/11 -


Julia and I aren't familiar with any other Pig Pig books. Honestly, I had no idea there was a previous series until I just happened to see this in the description.
Apparently the other Pig Pig books were pretty damn good because from the ratings and reviews here it seems a lot of people think this falls short. I can't say what I think about that obviously, at least not at this moment, but I can say that Julia and I both liked this story well enough. Neither of us loved it but it was a decent read.
I didn't recognize the authors name but after looking at his author page on here I noticed we'd read at least two of McPhail's other books in the past, those being Weezer Changes the World and Waddles. We liked the latter more but the former was decent in our opinions.
Pig Pig Returns might be valuable to a parent of a young child who will be going through what Pig Pig went through here. Leaving home, even if for a short vacation, without your parent(s) can be very stressful for a young child. Hell, it can be stressful for anyone in the right circumstance.
Even without "needing" the book for that reason we both though it was a decent little story. It's a quick one, very simple, and we're happy we read it.
Profile Image for Angela.
150 reviews2 followers
January 31, 2013
Best for kids ages 4 and up.
Early Literacy Skills: Narrative Skills

From cover:
Traveling across the country with Aunt Wilma and Uncle Fred doesn't sound like fun to Pig Pig. He'd rather stay home and build a rocket ship model or read back issues of Daring Pig Exploits.
His uncle insists that this is the Opportunity of a Lifetime , and soon enough Pig Pig is enjoying an eye-opening road trip. But he worries - what if his mother and Fluffy don't remember him when he gets back?

Sweet story and illustrations move this story along and makes it fun for young readers.
Profile Image for Tricia.
2,669 reviews
November 10, 2011
Ummm, Pig Pig is adorable, let it be said. Something about this book just missed the mark with me, though. He goes on a road trip with his Aunt and Uncle despite the fact that he'd prefer to stay home. In time, he is enjoying himself but worries if he will be remembered at home.
Profile Image for Tam.
909 reviews18 followers
July 27, 2014
I am not a fan of "Pig Pig". I didn't love the last book we read, nor did I love this, one but my boys (ages 4 & 8) like it enough to want to read it several times.
Profile Image for Katie.
2,066 reviews8 followers
September 9, 2011
My boys were excited for a new Pig Pig book, but this one isn't as good as the previous ones we've read.
Profile Image for Brian.
2,216 reviews20 followers
November 16, 2011
Pig Pig doesn't want to go on a trip with his relatives. Can you blame him? What if everything changes by the time he gets back? Ack!
6 reviews
January 11, 2012
Great! Good for pigs, vacations, road trip, worries about separation from parents!

Can we purchase Kim?
Profile Image for Aimee Owen.
208 reviews
May 22, 2012
What did Pig Pig do on his summer vacation? Young readers will find out as he reluctantly leaves his mom and cat behind to explore the open road with his aunt and uncle.
Profile Image for Serina.
1,064 reviews25 followers
December 15, 2012
eh, idk nothing really stood out to me with this book

832 reviews6 followers
March 29, 2017
At one point the road trip stops so that Pig Pig can pee or poop behind a bush. Cute, but an unexpected thing to have to explain.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews

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