Meet Wild Boars

by Meg Rosoff, Sophie Blackall (Illustrator)

If you share your treats with Morris he will stomp on them with his beastly feet. STOMP STOMP STOMP. Naughty Morris.

Are you daring enough to befriend this dastardly bunch of boars?

Meet Wild Boars! Or maybe you better not. After all, they are dirty and smelly, bad-tempered and rude. They might try to fool you, but don't worry, you won't believe them. There's no such thing as a nice wild boar. Hmmm.

This insufferable gang of boars will mess up your house and set a very bad example indeed. If you are foolish enough to fall in love with them, they will break your heart (and most of your furniture). So don't say we didn't warn you!

A CHILDREN'S BOOK-OF-THE-MONTH CLUB SELECTION
A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION

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

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2005

About the author

Meg Rosoff was born in Boston and had three or four careers in publishing and advertising before she moved to London in 1989, where she lives now with her husband and daughter. Formerly a Young Adult author, Meg has earned numerous prizes including the highest American and British honors for YA fiction: the Michael L. Printz Award and the Carnegie Medal.

Reviews

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's say it at the start - the wild boars are NOT pleasant. In fact, we can all agree there's no such thing as a nice wild boar. They make rude smells, they wantonly destroy your things, they tusk you if you do anything nice for them, they throw massive tantrums - and then they laugh when they blame it all on you.

And these are the main characters of this book, so if you or your child is incapable of understanding that *depicting* bad behavior is not the same thing as *endorsing* bad behavior, well, you've been warned.

For the rest of us, this is great. Two children (who inexplicably attend school with wild boars) go out of their way to be nice to the animals... and can find out from experience that it was a waste of time. There's no great moral lesson here, there *are* graphic displays of poo and farts, and it's all good fun for a certain age group.

I can't explain it, but there's just something charming about watching the boars wreak malicious havoc on everything.

[Ginny · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow. I do not understand what the purpose of this book was. Is it maybe to teach manners? Doing it in a reverse way though doesn't seem helpful. All we see is how rude, nasty, and mean these four wild boars are. Even the baby who leaves a steamy pile of poo. Is this telling us that no matter what there are some children who will always be BAD?

Skip this one.

[Thomasin Propson · Rating 5 out of 5]

After another reread, I’ve adjusted from 4 up to 5 stars. It’s ridiculous, how much I love this silly book! What is it about these terrible little beasts that makes me adore this so? Perhaps that for all their ‘wildness,’ they still wear clothes and have stuffy names. And they are a great ‘enemy’ type for youngsters, who may not be ready to be scared but are ready for some drama. It’s fun to read aloud, and Sophie Blackall’s illustrations are spot on as always. Love it!

Update: just read it aloud for my spouse. You don't need to be a kiddo to laugh. So fun!

[Cheryl]

Models of how not to behave? I found it not funny and disgusting, but then there are plenty of kids who want something different. Consider, for example, Battle Bunny, which I actually do love & admire. A whole different appeal than pink books about good children....

[Dianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

The wild boars are nasty, disgusting, and rude. I actually thought the book was pretty fun and quirky until the last page, on which was depicted a pile of poop. Frankly, I found that offensive, and it ruined an otherwise enjoyable book for my son and me.

I was doubly disappointed since I liked the sequel, Wild Boars Cook, quite a lot.

[Relyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This will be fun to kick off a series of lessons on manners.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you were a teen, did you crush on bad boys? WERE you a bad boy?

If not, the charm of this book may be lost on you. As it was on me.


"If you share your treats with Morris he will stomp on them with his beastly feet. STOMP STOMP STOMP. Naughty Morris."

Are you daring enough to befriend this dastardly bunch of boars? Personally, I don't think this choice would be a matter of derring do. Common sense could suffice.

Say "Buh-bye."

MEET -- VOLUNTARILY MEET -- THESE WILD BOARS?

My first reaction to the title of this book was: No. Definitely no.

RATING THIS BOOK

Personally, I kept waiting to find something I liked. Didn't happen. Therefore, my personal summary would be:

In the spirit of "Where the Wild Things Are" but with none of the charm. IMO.

But my policy is to rate books in terms of the intended readers. I can imagine many different groups. So, sure, FIVE STARS.

Just watch out, parents. Do you really want to live with a child who wants to read this storybook every night? (And you say YES????)

[Sarah Hyatt · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one doesn't hold up. And we love a good poop or fart joke.

The message of "don't waste your time being nice to them because of their behavior" is too strong. Obviously, the book intends to draw comparisons between the wild boars' behavior and "rude" children. For the target age group, however, this attitude and message seem extremely unhelpful. Kids do well when they can.

There may be a place for a more nuanced "don't cast your pearls before swine" (pun intended, always) message for kids, but this book isn't sharing a message of kindness AND setting boundaries. It's just a journey in REACTING to the boars based on their behavior. They're BAD! Stay away! They're cute -- okay NO BUT NOW THEY'RE BAD.

Not what I want my kids to internalize at all. Before I had kids, I remembered it being funny and with cute illustrations. I still think "tusk you with his horrible tusks" is fantastic phrasing. I just wish the rest of the book weren't as mean-spirited.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The funniest book I have ever read, I was crying with laughter trying to catch my breath. It tells the story of naughty wild boars causing trouble, and that they're beyond help. Would definitely recommend, children can laugh at the bad behaviour but also know not to copy it. The boars are so naughty, that "no one loves them".

[Jolynne Dougherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talking to my 22 year old and asking him if he remembers the book about the burping, pooping and farting pigs that we read many years ago - and he says "Three Wild Boars" which jogged my memory. I couldn't remember the title, but I do remember the kids laughing and enjoying that one. Putting it here because I want to remember it.

[Emily Marie Pirrello · Rating 1 out of 5]

There seemed to be no moral to this story, I tried to think outside the box but I am still left with only a message of naughty manners and cruel creatures. A tad disappointed with this. It’s the first children’s book I’ve read that I would truly not recommend personally.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though they may look cute in their little outfits, wild boars make terrible playmates, and even worse houseguests. Cute story, great illustrations, and NO - there's no moral, BUT there is plenty of gross stuff that kids love. That makes this one a win/win in my book.

[Shari (Shira) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kids will get a hoot from these wild boars in school. This one is in the same category as DAVID GOES TO SCHOOL and HOW DO DINOSAURS GO TO SCHOOL?

[Hughes Kids · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rather unsavory, in my opinion. Kids did not find it amusing and I certainly didn't.

[S.N. Arly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book on a whim. I'd never heard of it before, and I'm not sure why. This is easily as engaging and entertaining to the picture book crowd as Don't Let The Pigeon Ride the Bus, I'd Really Like to Eat A Child, and Green Eggs and Ham.

The book can be read simply as a silly tale, or it can be used to guide and direct behavior. As we see the wild boars exhibiting enormous social faux pas, young children can relate and see why you wouldn't want to be around someone behaving as they do. When my 3 year old son starts to get unruly (rude, obnoxious or mean), I ask him if he's a wild boar. This alone often corrects the behavior. No need for threats, counting or time outs. What could be better than that?

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read Walter the Farting Dog, but I can assume it might run along the same grossness as the wild boars books. Read this and Wild Boars Cook during a "manners" preschool story time (teaching by negative example.) They were a lot of fun and I think the kids got a kick out of them. I was a little appalled at the nastiness (farting & poop,) but it's good to share some real stinky, bad-manneredness after seeing so many cutesy books for kids. My favorite part was in the middle of the book when the author presents the possibility of boars coming over to your house for everyone to have a grand ol' time with toys, in the bath and act like normal, slumber party friends--sweet, nice, well-mannered. "OH NO THEY WILL NOT."

[Foxytocin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A refreshing break for both parents and kids from cute, sunshiny morality tales......a book like this provides an important contrast to gentler stories and is a most excellent way to generate discussion, appealing to both parents and kids alike with the humourous and rather crude subject matter.
I think all of us have a bit of "wild boar" in us somewhere (whether we admitt it or not)......this book is another reminder of why we, for the most part, keep the unpleasant beast on a very short leash.

I should add:
I thought this was a riot. A fellow children's librarian, however, seemed a bit offended. We agreed to disagree.

[Melanie, Aaron, Annie, and Mary Project · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read by: Mary
Title: Meet Wild Boars
Author: Meg Rosoff
Illustrator: Sophie Blackall
Genre: Humor
Interest Level: K-2
Grade level Equivalent: 1.8
Lexile Measure®: 850L
Guided Reading: J

This is a humorous story about three naughty, rude will boars. It tells of how even when other characters are nice to the boars, they will still be horrible back. This is a cute story that will be easy for independent readers. The pictures are as engaging for emergent readers as well. This is a good read aloud for fun and can be used for predictions.

[Crystal Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first read this book when I was a bookseller and seem to remember absolutely loving it and being thoroughly amused by it. Then about a year or so ago I saw it as a bargain book at a local bookstore and immediately told my husband I had to buy it. I brought it home, read it and somehow it just didn't live up to how I remembered it. I can't remember what in the storyline disappointed me... maybe it's time to pick it up again. I do remember that I love the illustrations!

[Monalisa Johnson-brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is about four wild boars who were named Boris, Morris, Horace, and Doris. They were all mean and bad in their own way. They would tear up the house, soak in the toilet, be passing gas for fun. They did everything a boar would do but these children which they could do something right like sleep in bed with pajamas on or take a bathe. They realized that, it would never happen.

[Rcltigger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those naughty wild boars! They are so unpleasant and ill-mannered, which is precisely why this book was such a hit with my three year old son, who repeatedly requested this book on several nights. It's also fun to read aloud and it gave me a great opportunity to weave questions/talk to him about bad behavior as I read the story to him. Recommended.

[Peacegal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I know more than a few children who behave like the wild boars in these pages.

However, wild pigs in the US simply can't catch a break, and similarly have few friends, and stories like this don't exactly cultivate sympathy. A bit like the negative way wolves are characterized in children's stories.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather charming warning of just how awful wild boars can be. Four boars a introduced and then the author cheekily suggests they come visit you at your house. Their behavior at your house is atrocious! But this is a cautionary tale, so if you ever do in fact come across a wild boar, you won't been surprised.

Great illustrations.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun for both my daughter and my husband--their favorite books are about "baddies" like these rude, messy, inconsiderate boars, who are all named to add to their realism. Follow up about taking a bath is just as much fun.

[Ariel Cummins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super funny story about some very badly behaved boars. Lots of awesome vocabulary, and really silly illustrations.

Would be great for a readaloud for older groups. They're sure to get a laugh out of the stinkiness.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not sure what the purpose of this book but I am going to guess that it is to show kids that being , rude, smelly and noisy like wild boars, they can see the errors in their bad behavior and shape up? Not sure! Interesting concept and it has some comical moments!

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture book by great YA author. Come on, wild boars - no one could pass that up!

[Leona]

manners

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book about manners-- I love the illustrations!

[donewithdora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique & silly.