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Half a Pig
Allan Ahlberg cuts to the chase in this madcap tale illustrated by his daughter, Jessica Ahlberg, in her picture-book debut.
The horrid Mr. Harbottle eats so many sausages he’s beginning to look like one. And now he even has designs on poor Esmerelda, a pig half-owned by the (former) Mrs. Harbottle. In the hands of Allan Ahlberg, this can only mean the chase is on! Featuring the brave young Rose and Billy (still in their pajamas), and peppered with author asides, HALF A PIG is one entirely silly celebration of porcine justice.
The horrid Mr. Harbottle eats so many sausages he’s beginning to look like one. And now he even has designs on poor Esmerelda, a pig half-owned by the (former) Mrs. Harbottle. In the hands of Allan Ahlberg, this can only mean the chase is on! Featuring the brave young Rose and Billy (still in their pajamas), and peppered with author asides, HALF A PIG is one entirely silly celebration of porcine justice.
First published April 28, 2004
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About the author
Allan Ahlberg
313 books174 followersAllan Ahlberg was one of the UK's most acclaimed and successful authors of children's books - including the best-selling Jolly Postman series. Born in Croydon in 1938, he was educated at Sunderland Technical College. Although he dreamed of becoming a writer since the age of twelve, his route to that goal was somewhat circuitous. Other jobs along the way included postman (not an especially jolly one, he recalls), gravedigger, plumber, and teacher.
Ahlberg wrote his first book when he was thirty-seven, after a decade of teaching - a profession that he maintains is "much harder" than being a writer. He says that if he hadn't become a writer, he would have loved to be a soccer player. He was married for many years to fellow children's author Janet Ahlberg, with whom he often worked. Their daughter, Jessica Ahlberg, is also a children's author.
Ahlberg wrote his first book when he was thirty-seven, after a decade of teaching - a profession that he maintains is "much harder" than being a writer. He says that if he hadn't become a writer, he would have loved to be a soccer player. He was married for many years to fellow children's author Janet Ahlberg, with whom he often worked. Their daughter, Jessica Ahlberg, is also a children's author.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 29, 2009
Odd. I'm not going to pretend to understand this book.
December 15, 2018
Wow. There's a LOT going on here, huh?
November 10, 2024
2-3 stars, maybe.
(A closed stacks book, maybe)
Perhaps not for itty bitties. Slow..how it is told and..depends on how u raise your kids..a review needed before deciding to share, maybe. I was made to eat what was put in front of me and vegetarianism was dealt w/gruffly, wishing it was dealt w/more heart n wouldn't want to make my babies eat an animal if it messes with their head, but the bio-available nutrients are important..hmm...idk, honestly. Will be forever grateful 4 veg Dr defending HS-aged me against ma, though n miffed at misogynist male acupuncturist maintaining females hormones being all outaawhack to my HS-aged veggself
(A closed stacks book, maybe)
Perhaps not for itty bitties. Slow..how it is told and..depends on how u raise your kids..a review needed before deciding to share, maybe. I was made to eat what was put in front of me and vegetarianism was dealt w/gruffly, wishing it was dealt w/more heart n wouldn't want to make my babies eat an animal if it messes with their head, but the bio-available nutrients are important..hmm...idk, honestly. Will be forever grateful 4 veg Dr defending HS-aged me against ma, though n miffed at misogynist male acupuncturist maintaining females hormones being all outaawhack to my HS-aged veggself
August 9, 2017
This is an odd book. It attempts (and maybe sometimes achieves?) a semi-Snicketish sense of humor. It also features a disturbing focus on sausage in a book about a pig who is owned by a feuding divorced couple. The custodial pig-owner loves her, but the villainous ex-husband only wants to make her into sausage. The day is saved, of course, but the narrator fails to deliver some of the words and features promised to the reader at the beginning of the book. It was intriguing, but I don't know that I would recommend it.
July 21, 2024
We bought this book for our 4 year old at a library sale based on the cover art last summer. Finally got around to reading it over before reading it with him. It was a strange story (divorced couple fighting over a pig), overly wordy and the target audience seems unclear. The illustrations are cute, but we're not going to read this with our now 5 year old.
October 6, 2017
I'm torn. I liked this story of a pig who is owned by a divorced couple, thus giving each person ownership of half of the pig. And the story is a bit hodge-podge. And the text is so incredibly wordy!
August 10, 2025
Father/daughter book with a whole lotta silly words and sweet illustrations telling a twisted tale of pigknapping following an acrimonious divorce. Well, now I have probably said too much. But I didn’t mention sausages or a hippopotamus so the plot is not altogether spoiled. Oops🤷♀️
October 13, 2010
This book sucks from what I remember. I think we fought our way through it once but that was at least a year or two ago. I just found it in one of the places Julia keeps mountains of books so I'm going to keep it for the time being and try it again now that she - and I - are a little older.
Maybe we'll feel differently.
10/12/10 - We read this again, not sure why, and I have to admit it was a little better. Not much. I don't feel right changing the rating to two stars but if we had halves I'd go 1.5.
The introduction was annoying as hell. I pared it down because I couldn't even stand to read it. The next two pages detail some of the words found in the story, some names, some colors, some weather words, etc. That's different than anything I've seen before and I liked it.
The next page, right before the story begins is another two paragraphs directly to the reader - or listener as the case may be. Not as irksome as the introduction but by now we're wanting to read the darn story.
We both liked the illustrations, Julia's favorite part was when the pig was rolled over toshow the policeman the line on her belly, my favorite part was when it was over.
There is also a 'conclusion', as if anyone would have has a hard time guessing. IMO, the introduction and the conclusion could have been left out. There's too much going on in the book besides the story. The little message to the reader/listener and the two pages outlining some of the words and such would have been sufficient although I can't say I would have liked it any more. It's just rather boring I think.
Maybe we'll feel differently.
10/12/10 - We read this again, not sure why, and I have to admit it was a little better. Not much. I don't feel right changing the rating to two stars but if we had halves I'd go 1.5.
The introduction was annoying as hell. I pared it down because I couldn't even stand to read it. The next two pages detail some of the words found in the story, some names, some colors, some weather words, etc. That's different than anything I've seen before and I liked it.
The next page, right before the story begins is another two paragraphs directly to the reader - or listener as the case may be. Not as irksome as the introduction but by now we're wanting to read the darn story.
We both liked the illustrations, Julia's favorite part was when the pig was rolled over toshow the policeman the line on her belly, my favorite part was when it was over.
There is also a 'conclusion', as if anyone would have has a hard time guessing. IMO, the introduction and the conclusion could have been left out. There's too much going on in the book besides the story. The little message to the reader/listener and the two pages outlining some of the words and such would have been sufficient although I can't say I would have liked it any more. It's just rather boring I think.
October 4, 2014
Ahlberg, A., & Ahlberg, J. (2004). Half a pig. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press.
Picture Book Soak
I really didn’t care for this book. The story is about a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Harbottle, who are divorced. Mrs. Harbottle still has a pig named Esmeralda that the couple both owned when they were still married. Mr. Harbottle wants his half of Esmeralda so he can turn her into sausages. Mr. and Mrs. Harbottle get into a fight about the pig and Mr. Harbottle hires some bad people to kidnap Esmeralda so he can get his half of her. Rose and Billy, who were neighbors of Mrs. Harbottle, helped to save Esmeralda. I didn’t really like this book because I feel the subject matter is a little to advanced for grade school children. Divorce is a subject that some children know nothing about and the fighting between Mr. and Mrs. Harbottle and the bad people I believe is a little to grown-up. The author mentions Mr. Harbottle using words that parents or teachers may not want students to hear or read. This is not a book I would enjoy reading to students.
Picture Book Soak
I really didn’t care for this book. The story is about a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Harbottle, who are divorced. Mrs. Harbottle still has a pig named Esmeralda that the couple both owned when they were still married. Mr. Harbottle wants his half of Esmeralda so he can turn her into sausages. Mr. and Mrs. Harbottle get into a fight about the pig and Mr. Harbottle hires some bad people to kidnap Esmeralda so he can get his half of her. Rose and Billy, who were neighbors of Mrs. Harbottle, helped to save Esmeralda. I didn’t really like this book because I feel the subject matter is a little to advanced for grade school children. Divorce is a subject that some children know nothing about and the fighting between Mr. and Mrs. Harbottle and the bad people I believe is a little to grown-up. The author mentions Mr. Harbottle using words that parents or teachers may not want students to hear or read. This is not a book I would enjoy reading to students.
May 28, 2009
This story is currently way beyond my son's capabilities - but I'm looking forward to when he'll really enjoy it.
This would be a great group read-aloud book. Allan Ahlberg has done a great job at providing a suspenseful story (how is he going to work a hippopotamus into the story?). Jessica Ahlberg does a great job in illustrating - I particularly like the chase scene map.
This would be a great group read-aloud book. Allan Ahlberg has done a great job at providing a suspenseful story (how is he going to work a hippopotamus into the story?). Jessica Ahlberg does a great job in illustrating - I particularly like the chase scene map.
April 12, 2014
I readily admit that this book is a little odd, and not for everyone. I do think that it might be an interesting way to start a child thinking about storytelling, and about the way words work in creating stories. I also thought bits of it were quite funny. This one is definitely for a slightly older crowd. 5-7 would be my guess.
August 7, 2010
Adventure story with an interesting format and style. There were a lot of words for my five year old. But, the format and pictures kept him interested. Even my 10 yr old involved himself in the discussion. Great book.
November 5, 2013
This is a hard book to read at bedtime. I would have to say it's definitely meant for an older child than mine (maybe 6-9 year old). My two year old didn't really get into the story, and the illustrations were either confusing or not enough to hold his attention.
October 13, 2010
The worst children's book I've ever read...ever.
March 3, 2012
I didn't finish this; it was so boring - a lot about nothing.
October 8, 2015
The narrative style is a bit unconventional but I can see some children enjoying it. I wouldn't choose to read it aloud to my class though.
July 20, 2015
So delightfully British.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews