Zeke Pippin: A Spirited Pig Runs Away With a Magical Harmonica and Returns to His Loving Family for Kids

by William Steig

Bitterly disappointed when his family falls asleep as he plays his newfound harmonica, a spirited young pig runs away only to undergo harrowing adventures before he, with the aid of his magical sleep-inducing harmonica, can be reunited with his loving family.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Music, Fiction, Kids, Jewish, Family

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

William Steig was born in New York City in 1907. In a family where every member was involved in the arts, it was not surprising that Steig became an artist.

He published his first children's book, Roland the Minstrel Pig, in 1968, embarking on a new and very different career.

Steig's books reflect his conviction that children want the security of a devoted family and friends. When Sylvester, Farmer Palmer, Abel, Pearl, Gorky, Solomon, and Irene eventually get home, their families are all waiting, and beginning with Amos & Boris, friendship is celebrated in story after story.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/willia...

Reviews

[Luisa Knight · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ages: 5 - 9

Cleanliness: mentions schnapps. Zeke gets mad at his family and runs away. He later realizes it was a misunderstanding and repents. A mother says that if she doesn't see her son again, she'll shoot herself. Zeke gets kidnapped by thugs who talk rough and call him names. "Darned" is said. There is a magic harmonica in the story.

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.

[Jay Gabler · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was taking a children's literature course in college, I made a felt storytelling smock with little figures corresponding to the characters in this story. Having a harmonica, I knew I could have fun with it. My professor was wowed, and I later brought the smock with me on trips to Australia and England, so I've told this story to kids on three continents. I've always thought the story itself was...well, a little weird.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easily my favorite William Steig book. Great language, great pictures, and the perfect final book for our Steig author study.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steig has a wonderful ability to turn ordinary objects into the magical which produce very funny situations.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Steig, it’s been too long. I smiled so hard while reading this! Clearly, you are a musician as well as artist and author. You nailed the whole harmonica thing. Both sweet and hilarious.

[Snail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steig’s books are sooo weird and randomly violent from a modern-day perspective. I love ‘em.

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zeke Pippin by William Steig- Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture Book- The Book narrates the story of Zeke who finds that a Harmonica has fallen from a garbage wagon. Zeke picks up this harmonica and learns to play with the harmonica and soon becomes a prodigy. In the evening, Zeke plays the harmonica for his family members. He finds members praise his ability to play the harmonica but hey fall asleep. Zeke is unhappy with the fact that his parents have fallen asleep on listening to his harmonica. He is angry and leaves home during one dark night. Zeke carries sandwiches, money and his harmonica with him. He has his own boat on which he moves in the river. Zeke dreams that because of his absence his parents and family are sad. Zeke plans to return home. While on the way back, four dogs meet him. They tie him, eat away his food. Zeke asks them to play his harmonica. When he plays the harmonica, the capturers fall asleep. Now, Zeke heads home. He walks beck to his house. On reaching home, the falls on the door tired of the journey. On hearing the noise, his parents wake up and carry Zeke in the house. I would give it one and a half stars. I have read the Hindi language translation of this book. The pictures and verses help the reader to relate to the story.

[Marjorie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not ideal for young readers. Steig has elaborate, engaging story-telling, but themes get dark very fast. I notice he has a popular narrative where children are lost from their parents, and the parents grieve on a disturbing level for kid readers to process. “I’m so sad I may shoot myself.” 😳 Suicidal triggers really should be avoided in children’s literature.
5/5 stars for vocab and overall plot, but 1/5 for the intended age category.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

More Steig, more good. This is much newer written in 94. Has a bit more of a message and don’t like the petulance of running away as the first option but still enjoyed the goofiness if the story. Just a way about how it’s told. I also like that it doesn’t seem to talk down or over simplify. Not sure what children would think but I’d enjoy reading it to them.

[zunggg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The picaresque tale of Zeke Pippin is stuffed to the gills with playful, musical lingo, manic plot-turns, and characters whose voices are intuitive and uproarious to read out loud. Read in the spirit in which it's written, kids of any age will dig this rollicking roller-coaster tale - a zeezly, zoozly masterpiece.

[shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brought this home from work for the pig loving offspring and read it myself, as well. I enjoy Steig's illustrations and color stories. Some comical moments (rooted in what feels to me like a child-like lens) which will cause cringe or chagrin for some.

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ha ha. This book was so random and strange and so very, very Steig.

[Eric Hinkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! Unique story, a bit dark in parts. His use of big words is always fun.

[skcocnaH · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m not saying we can judge old books by todays standards, but this book was just SO messed up. Would not recommend for children!

[Nate Portnoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

much more intrigue than you would expect for a children’s book

would probably recommend it for 10+

[Lydia Underhill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I miss the children's books of old that weren't afraid to GO THERE. Steig was an icon.

[Ellice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zeke the pig runs away after his family insults him by repeatedly falling asleep during his harmonica serenades. But things take some odd turns. Classic Steig illustrations.

[Josiah · Rating 1 out of 5]

When Zeke picks up a harmonica that has fallen into the street from off the back of a garbage wagon, he begins to practice playing the instrument, and soon finds that he is a certifiable prodigy. When he debuts his newfound skills for his family, they are all suitably impressed by his burgeoning skill, yet...they fall asleep. Right where they sit, while listening to him play.

This narcoleptic response to his music proves to be a trend when it comes to his family, and one dark night Zeke sets off on his own to find listeners with a more cultured palate for music. When all of his new listeners fall asleep just as his family did, however, he realizes that the harmonica he has must be magical, somehow. Zeke tries to head home to reunite with his lost family, but he is detained by three unsavory dogs during his trip, and he wonders how he can escape from them without losing his special harmonica. Perhaps he can use the instrument to help free himself...

I always enjoy William Steig's writing style, and Zeke Pippin is no exception. I would give it one and a half stars.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a fan of William Steig ever since Ellen came home from the library with The Amazing Bone when whe was little. In The Amazing Bone, Pear dawdled. In this book, Zeke moseys. I do like Steig's choice of words. As Zeke moseys down the street, he finds a harmonica. After thoroughly cleaning it, he teaches himself to play, but when he plays for his family, they all fall asleep. Crushed and offended, thinking that his family does not love him, Zeke takes off on his own. There he meets with some adventures and makes a discovery that leads him to make his way home. One phrase disturbed me, and that was when, in Zeke's dream, his mother said, "If I don't see my angel again soon, I'll shoot myself." I don't believe that kind of language belongs in a children's book, so if I were reading it to a child, I would make up other words. This is not for very young children, as there are too many words per page to hold their attention. Perhaps kindergarten and primary grades.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly I've never read any books by William Steig before, or really heard of him, although of course I've heard of his most famous creation- Shrek, but only because of the movie franchise and not the books. This is my first encounter with Steig, but it certainly won't be my last. You can tell that you're not reading typical children's book fare when on the second page Zeke is cleaning the harmonica that fell out of the garbage truck with his father's schnapps. I love that he managed to squeeze nincompoops and surcease into the vocabulary of this book. Zeke Pippin is an extraordinary tale of a pig who finds a magic harmonica when it literally falls at his feet from the garbage truck. Of course he initially regales his family with the prelude to La Traviata! But they fall asleep, Zeke can't believe how rude and insulting his family are and so he runs away from home with his harmonica, and an awful lot of food (he is a pig afterall). This book is both fun and funny, and I really can't wait to read more of this author's work.

[Brett Axel · Rating 2 out of 5]

We very much liked William Steig's Shrek so expected this book to be enjoyable as well. I wouls not recommend this one at all. First, the title character uses his father's schnapps to disinfect his newly found harmonica. I see no reason to introduce alcohol use to children. Next, Zeke's mother threatens to shoot herself because of what Zeke has done. Seriously, parent suicide just tossed around willy nilly. Later, three Samaritans help Zeke out and they try to rob him. Way to teach children to distrust kindness. The illustrations are enjoyable but the story has no regard for the impact it may have on its young readers.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zeke is thrilled to find a harmonica one day. After a thorough cleaning (using a toothbrush, and his dad's schnapps to disinfect!), Zeke discovers he has some mad musical skills, but the harmonica appears to be cursed; every time he plays it, people . . . oh, I don't want to give it away.

You'll just have to read this one for yourself.

[Cana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mommy says: A cute tale about a nice pig and a magic harmonica. By the author of the original Shrek. Interesting and unusual plot and storyline.

[Ilana Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the use of language and plays-on-words. The book *is* a little scary for the younger set, but of course, everything turns out all right for Zeke at the end.

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magic harmonica that puts listeners to sleep and a musically gifted young pig - a most winning combination! That Steig!

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

An average story, a bit of a retread with elements from some of his others.

[Casey Girard]

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