Mrs. Pig's Bulk Buy

The Pig Family

by Mary Rayner

Mrs. Pig decides to break her piglets' habit of putting ketchup on all foods by buying and serving nothing but ketchup until they have had enough

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1981

Reviews

[La Coccinelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs. Pig is tired of her kids going through so much ketchup. So, one day, when she sees that ketchup is on sale at the store, she devises a plan. She buys six big jars, and then proceeds to feed the ten piglets ketchup for every meal! That gets old quickly, of course, and the piglets are soon hankering for something besides a condiment!

This is one of the earlier stories about the Pig family, and the illustrations are a little rougher. There are still some fun touches, though, like the diverse school population and the father reading The New Porker magazine.

If you're a fan of the Pig family, this is a book you must read. And if you're not a fan of the Pig family yet, this clever story might get you there.

Quotable moment:

No matter how carefully she flavored the stews or spiced the puddings, the piglets always squealed for tomato ketchup. She had always tried to stop them from having it, and make one bottle last a week, but it was always gobbled up by Monday and then the piglets would grumble until she went to the supermarket again.

"But things will be different soon," thought Mother Pig happily. She reached down one of the big jars and emptied it into a huge soup tureen.

[Emily Von pfahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to my daughter in the hopes of encouraging her to eat less ketchup, but all it did was make her want ketchup sandwiches. This is an adorable story in the same vein as Bread and Jam for Frances.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs. Pigs Bulk Buy is a story about a mom whose piglets love ketchup so she surprises them with tons of ketchup to eat. Kids and parents will laugh.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved how Mrs. Pig dealt with the piglets wanting to put ketchup on everything. Making them sick of ketchup did the trick. I also liked the colorful illustrations; especially the one in the schoolyard, where one piglet is stomping on her ketchup sandwich, and another piglet is kicking his ketchup sandwich over the school fence.

[Laura Zabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

They are obsessed with ketchup but eventually learn to appreciate other foods.

[FM Family · Rating 5 out of 5]

This five star review is on behalf of my 3.5 year old who LOVES this story. I would place it probably as a 3.5-4. I can totally see myself enjoying this as a kid, the 10 piglets running around and the angst as they go from such enthusiasm about eating ketchup to throwing their lunch out of the schoolyard in frustration. But as it’s such an old book there are some dates moments, Mrs pig is described as “cuffing the piglets away with her hard trotters” as they dig into the food and the whole premise of feeling your kids only ketchup every meal for 2 days while keeping the pantry locked is kind of sadistic, from today’s perspective. Though I can appreciate the urge. Will definitely be checking out other stories in the series.

[Olivia S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like the age of this book shows. It's a little bit of a harsh view of children and motherhood, but also kind of funny and cute. I wouldn't use it, and it has a lot of text, but not a bad book overall. Mrs Pig buys 6 big jars of ketchup to teach her greedy piglets a lesson. They always want ketchup on everything and don't appreciate the real food she cooks for them, so she starts serving them only ketchup for every meal. The piglets learn their lesson, but turn pink as a result of eating so much ketchup.

[Shawn Deal · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when your children put ketchup on everything at every meal. Well...than just feed them ketchup. An amusing little solution to an amusing little problem.

[Jasmine Weich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is Epic!! If you love ketchup this book is a must!!!

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have remembered this story since I was a kid. I always thought that it was a silly myth-like explanation for why pigs are pink. I looked it up and this was a Reading Rainbow book, but it was not a featured book. That means that they recommended it at the end of the show, but they didn't actually read it and all, from what I understand. So, someone must have read this one to me at some point because I don't remember holding the book myself.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good funny story, but with some wisdom to it: eating the same food all the time will make one sick of it. This time Mother Pig decides to cure the piglets love of ketchup. A fun story for both adults and children.

[Pita-eater · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a pig family who loves ketchup.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piglets punished for ketchup lust. I begged my mother to mimic.
The sauce will be with us always. *nods*

[Amy Phelps · Rating 3 out of 5]

agood story about getting too much of something you love.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one, I was fascinated by those enormous jars of tomato sauce and it made me want to eat it too XD

[A Hoppy Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
These little piggies love ketchup, but when Mrs.Pig buys am economy sized batch, will they decide it's too much of a good thing? Laugh out loud fun.

[Charlotte Whiteing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favourite as a child.