What This Story Needs Is a Pig in a Wig

Pig in a Wig

by Emma J. Virjan

What this story needs is a pig in a wig, on a boat in a moat with a frog, a dog, and a goat on a log. . . .

As a panda in a blouse, a skunk on a trunk, and more hop on board, it becomes clear that what this story really needs is a bigger boat! Join Pig on an exciting boat ride as she discovers that life is more fun with friends in this fantastic funny read-aloud with cumulative text from author-illustrator Emma J. Virján.

The "What This Story Needs..." books are bright and lively and inspire giggles. "A story with echoes of Seuss and Willems," School Library Journal said in a starred review of What This Story Needs Is a Hush and a Shush.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Animals, Storytime, Fiction, Friendship

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 12, 2015

Reviews

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silliness for our beginning readers. There are several other titles in The Pig in a Wig series including What this Story Needs is a Munch and a Crunch and What this Story Needs is a Hush and a Shush.

[Erik This Kid Reviews Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis- This story needs a pig. In a wig. In a boat in a moat… But what happens when, as more and more animals and their belongings appear on the small, over-crowded boat?

What I Thought- This is a cute book. I like the rhyme, which reminds me a tad of Dr. Seuss’. I like Ms. Virgán’s illustrations. They have a fun, cartoon feeling about them. This story is perfect for bedtimes, and young kids starting to read.
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rhyming, silly story. I could see little one laughing their way through.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a silly story when "a pig in a wig on a boat in a moat" keeps adding more and more to the boat until something has to change. And it does change which is another funny part.

[Michelle Farella · Rating 5 out of 5]

HILARIOUS!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: What this story needs is a pig. A pig in a wig, on a boat, in a moat, with a frog, a dog, and a goat on a log.

Premise/plot: This early reader is all about the rhyme. But just because it has simple rhymes, simple words, don't mistake it for a dull story where little happens. It has crazy action at times!

My thoughts: Who knew that a story starring a pig in a wig could be so delightfully fun?! I am excited to read more books in this new series.

For reference, this isn't as text heavy as the Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willemstad.

[Rachael Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great rhymes.

[Sarah Prager · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 3-year-old LOVES this one!

[Lucca · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter enjoyed the rhyming words. I liked the illustrations and the moral of the story. The problem solving was good too.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book tried to emulate Mo Willems' Elephant and Piggie but fell short. The cover style is somewhat similar. The story stars a pig...and an elephant appears a few pages in. A child may find the story funny, but unlike Willems's stories, the adult will see it as something all too typical.

[Mary Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Potential Geisel Award winner. Fun series for beginning readers.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute picture book that I plan to send out to my nephew. Loved the story and the rhyming reminded me of Dr Seuss.

[Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bright, check! Colorful, Check! Rhyming, check! Reverse repetition, check! All here and a pig in a wig!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable. Tell me one thing that DOESN'T need a pig in a wig and I'll tell you to stop lying.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very very cute.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

"What this story needs is a pig. A pig in a wig, on a boat..." And so begins this ode to the joys and chaos of friendship. But beyond the obvious themes is something that makes this book perfect for librarians like myself to use in teaching lessons about story elements. As the story begins, a main character is presented (the pig in a wig), then a setting, followed by secondary characters (a frog, a dog, and a goat on a log), and finally a plot/problem appears as the boat in which the pig resides gets full of other characters and things (like a house). Then when the pig objects to the crowding (the climax of the story), a solution is found. But it turns out the solution isn't ideal and creates another problem, which then must be solved in the conclusion. The book is a delightful way to help children understand how stories are created and makes for a great inspiration for writing stories of their own.

[Josie Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

What This Story Needs Is a Pig in a Wig is a cute rhyming story about a pig in a wig floating in a boat. She wants some company but too many friends join causing the boat to start to sink. Once the friends leave, pig is lonely and wants some more company. A bigger boat is the solution to Pig's problem!

This book is super fun because all the words are rhyming and the pictures are bright and captivating. this is a good book for kindergarten-2nd grade early readers because the rhyming phrases make it easy to follow along and begin reading the words. I would use this book in my classroom because it's fun and an easy read for beginning readers.

[Abby]

What This Story Need Is a Pig in a Wig is a cute rhyming story about a pig in a wig floating in a boat. She wants some company but too many friends join causing the boat to start to sink. Once the friends leave, the pig is lonely and wants some more company. A bigger boat is the solution to the Pig's problem!

This book is super fun because all the words are rhyming and the pictures are bright and captivating. this is a good book for kindergarten-2nd grade early readers because the rhyming phrases make it easy to follow along and begin reading the words. I would use this book in my classroom because it's fun and an easy read for beginning readers.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great! The author takes simple classic rhymes , in the style of “Green Eggs in Ham” or “Frog on a Log” creating characters along the way and just runs with it. Then the author turns things on its head by subverting our expectations.

It starts out with a Pig in a wig, and then a frog in a log, to a goat in a boat. Each creature arriving in the story with their rhyming counterparts. And it continues on until there are so many characters that one of them realizes it’s just getting ridiculous! Pig then tells them all to go away until she gets lonely and tells them all to come back! 😆

[Laurie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pig in a Wig is a strong choice for kids just starting to read independently. It focuses almost entirely on single syllable words that practice short and long vowel sounds and blending (although a couple of pages might prove more challenging). But it's fun! The story is simple and silly, with the illustrations to match! It will certainly remind you of Dr. Seuss and Mo Willems, which is all you really need to know.

[Mira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought this book was okay. Bright, clear illustrations, rhymes the kids can shout out or follow along readily. I could see little kids getting a giggle out of this book if it's well-read/presented. Reminded me of the story in Pierre (Sendak), and felt a little like it was trying to be a Willems and/or Seuss book. Would try out more from Virjan to see as she finds her voice.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun book that I found on the $1 shelf at the library. Pig finds herself on a boat and before too long, she finds herself crowded with too many friends. At her wits' end, she dispatches them only to find that she is now lonely and so she invites them back. Moral of the story? Be careful what you wish for. You might just get it!

[Zowie Ponichtera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent choice for beginner readers. There is a lot of repetition in the text and smaller words that will help the reader get more comfortable with reading. The story was light hearted and fun, it included the reader making it feel more personal. The illustrations were very simple and colorful and followed with the text reaffirming the story with the reader.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fun story has a lot of repetition and silliness to entertain readers of all ages. It also makes a great beginning reader because the vocabulary is fairly simple and controlled. It reminds me a lot of Dr. Suess's Green Eggs and Ham, only shorter and easier to get through with more realistic illustrations. Definitely recommended!

[Mary Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! This book is a great choice for beginner readers as it provides rhyming words along with the repetitive text. As you continue to read the book you're provided with funny and colorful illustrations that follow the storyline. Overall, this is an amazing book, and I would definitely recommend it.

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beginning reader book. It is a good book to practice rhyming words. It would also be a good book to read when learning about different sight words. I would say this would fit K-2nd grades.

[Courtney Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is perfect for the beginning reader. The images are colorful and the text is short and sweet. The text follows an unexpected rhyming scheme that reminded me of Dr. Seuss. I can imagine young children getting into this book and laughing all the way through it.

[Haylie Calderon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fun-loving book would be wonderful for a beginning reader! It shares a funky and fresh take on rhyming and poetry, which would help kids understand the difference in pronunciation of certain words and have fun with animals doing unusual things.

[Villain E · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect early reader. I say that because my six-year-olds are able to read it 100% independently.

A pig in a wig in a boat in a moat is joined by various other rhyming animals and objects until it gets too crowded.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

My child picked this book out in a random moment of toddler excitement and I’m glad she did! It used a great rhyming scheme to teach about rhyming words and the illustrations were bold, bright, and eye-catching! We really enjoyed this story.