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Crispin the Pig #1
Crispin
Crispin the Little Pig Who Had It All is pure joy. Imagine the scene: it is Christmas morning and Crispin sneaks down the stairs to see what Santa has left him this year. The box is huge. Could it be a Zybox Teddy-Bot? Or a SpeedPony ShockJockey? Or maybe a Gig-Pigsation? Of course not, because he already has all of those and they are all lying broken and battered in a pile somewhere. So what could it be? What can you possibly buy a pig who already has everything? Simple. Nothing. There is nothing in the box. And Crispin is not happy at all...
This delightful, unusual and quirkily illustrated picture book will strike a chord in any parent who has ever struggled to keep up with the wants and needs of their child, trying to please them with all the latest gizmos which keep them happy for five minutes then get tossed aside for the next must-have on the hit list. As little Crispin, the pig who has absolutely everything, discovers the delights of using his imagination, playing with his new found friends in an empty box that becomes everything from a Space Base to Crispin's Store to a fantastic castle, children will recognise that they can have fun by getting back to basics if they really try.
A great gift to share with young children: parents will love it as much, if not more, than their offspring! (Age 4 and over) --Susan Harrison
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
February 13, 2016
I love these books. Each page has tons of little jokes in the details of the illustrations. The pictures themselves are practically expressive enough to carry the story, but the narration is wonderful as well. The space games remind me of Berkley Brethed's comics. I love how intensely focused and totally kid-like the characters are. I also think the overall message about what it really means to "have it all" is one that is very appropriate to children in our increasingly materialistic world.
December 20, 2011
Really cute. It reminded me of a more splashy, modern version of "Christina Katerina & the Box", which was one of my favorite books as a kid. I loved the imagination Crispin discovered and the friendships he made through it. Note that this could be a good Christmas read as it takes place around that holiday though isn't necessarily a "Christmas" theme.
November 26, 2018
When Crispin Tamworth - a wealthy young pig who had always been given everything he wanted - receives a great, big, empty box from Santa for Christmas, he is initially quite distraught, chucking it out into the snow. But when Nick (a raccoon) and Penny (a rabbit) show some interest in the box, suddenly Crispin does too. The perfect setting for a game of Space Base, or of Store, Pirates or Castle, the box turns out to be a great gift after all! More than that, it gradually leads Crispin to the realization that it isn't things which provide the most fun, but friends...
Chosen as one of our December selections, over in The Picture-Book Club to which I belong, where our theme this month is toys, Crispin: The Pig Who Had It All is a delightful holiday title, one with an engaging story and appealing illustrations. The imaginary play that Crispin and his new friends engage in brought back memories for me, of similar make-believe scenarios that I enacted as a young girl. The artwork is colorful, and really quite expressive - I loved the look on Crispin's face, in many of the scenes! All in all: a sweet, enjoyable little tale!
Chosen as one of our December selections, over in The Picture-Book Club to which I belong, where our theme this month is toys, Crispin: The Pig Who Had It All is a delightful holiday title, one with an engaging story and appealing illustrations. The imaginary play that Crispin and his new friends engage in brought back memories for me, of similar make-believe scenarios that I enacted as a young girl. The artwork is colorful, and really quite expressive - I loved the look on Crispin's face, in many of the scenes! All in all: a sweet, enjoyable little tale!
October 29, 2019
Crispin is a spoilt little pig who gets all the toys and money he could ever wish for. Every Christmas he got the present he asked for but by Easter, Valentine's day, and even New Years Day, he gets bored of them and they get broken...by Crispin! This story is like a morality tale for children who have everything.
The front cover of the book is very brightly coloured with an orangey red background and Crispin sitting in a green car with a drink and an ice cream. There are lots of other items which are desirable to children including a yoyo, tennis racket, CD's etc. The title of the book is written in the space above the main picture "Crispin" is written in red with a blue outline which makes it stand out, and "The Pig Who Had It All" is written in blue down the right hand side in capital letters, one word under the other. It is not a wrap around cover, as the back cover has a green background which is decorated like Christmas paper with a large gift tag in the middle with the blurb written on it.
There are no end pages in the book and only a half title page. On this page the green car has been broken, and Crispin is looking in the fridge for something new to eat. This may resemble the way humans see pigs as creatures that are greedy and always eating. All of the illustrations in this book are brightly coloured, and Crispin is on every page. He has a pig like face which is quite realistic of a real pig except he has larger ears. The body of Crispin is fully dressed in clothes that a little boy child would wear, with his tail sticking out the bottom. He has hands shaped like a human, but only 4 fingers and with the colour and texture of a pig. He is always wearing shoes so it is suspected that he has feet rather than trotters. When Crispin gets angry, emotion is displayed on his face in the same way as a child. The other animals which feature in the story are drawn in a similar way which resembles both the animal they are in the book, and a human. The characteristics of the animals in the book and the way they are living resemble human life entirely. No pig really gets pocket money, lives in a house, helps himself to food in the fridge and plays space base!
The majority of the illustrations in this book are drawn on to the white background with lots of white space around them. This makes the pictures stand out and draws the readers' eye to them. The text of the story is written in quite a large font with the first letter of the first word enlarged. Some words are larger than others and in bold to add emphasis and expression to the way it should be read. The language of the text is simple and reflects the way a child may speak with a lot of the sentences beginning with the word "and". Speech marks are used where Crispin speaks or the other characters. Three dots are used frequently at the end of a sentence and then the beginning of the next. This slows the pace of the book down.
I think this book would appeal to all children around the age of 5 or below. Its colourful pictures are attractive and draw the reader in.
The front cover of the book is very brightly coloured with an orangey red background and Crispin sitting in a green car with a drink and an ice cream. There are lots of other items which are desirable to children including a yoyo, tennis racket, CD's etc. The title of the book is written in the space above the main picture "Crispin" is written in red with a blue outline which makes it stand out, and "The Pig Who Had It All" is written in blue down the right hand side in capital letters, one word under the other. It is not a wrap around cover, as the back cover has a green background which is decorated like Christmas paper with a large gift tag in the middle with the blurb written on it.
There are no end pages in the book and only a half title page. On this page the green car has been broken, and Crispin is looking in the fridge for something new to eat. This may resemble the way humans see pigs as creatures that are greedy and always eating. All of the illustrations in this book are brightly coloured, and Crispin is on every page. He has a pig like face which is quite realistic of a real pig except he has larger ears. The body of Crispin is fully dressed in clothes that a little boy child would wear, with his tail sticking out the bottom. He has hands shaped like a human, but only 4 fingers and with the colour and texture of a pig. He is always wearing shoes so it is suspected that he has feet rather than trotters. When Crispin gets angry, emotion is displayed on his face in the same way as a child. The other animals which feature in the story are drawn in a similar way which resembles both the animal they are in the book, and a human. The characteristics of the animals in the book and the way they are living resemble human life entirely. No pig really gets pocket money, lives in a house, helps himself to food in the fridge and plays space base!
The majority of the illustrations in this book are drawn on to the white background with lots of white space around them. This makes the pictures stand out and draws the readers' eye to them. The text of the story is written in quite a large font with the first letter of the first word enlarged. Some words are larger than others and in bold to add emphasis and expression to the way it should be read. The language of the text is simple and reflects the way a child may speak with a lot of the sentences beginning with the word "and". Speech marks are used where Crispin speaks or the other characters. Three dots are used frequently at the end of a sentence and then the beginning of the next. This slows the pace of the book down.
I think this book would appeal to all children around the age of 5 or below. Its colourful pictures are attractive and draw the reader in.
December 12, 2011
Crispin seems to be the epitome of the spoiled brat. He is given more toys than he knows what to do with. They bore him and get broken, which simply results in him getting more. Sheesh. But some of the kids from the neighborhood show him how to truly have fun and use his imagination. Crispin discovers a way to avoid boredom that does not involve more toys. Yay! It's a fun story with a moral that is as much for parents as it is for children. The narrative is engaging and the illustrations are colorful and bold. We really enjoyed reading this story together. And best of all, after reading it, our girls created a fort from some of the boxes accumulating around the house - they had fun with that for days!
This book was featured as one of the selections for the Toys themed reads for the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
This book was featured as one of the selections for the Toys themed reads for the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
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June 28, 2015This is a good book to sure to teach children how to make friends and use their imagination.
May 26, 2022
This is on the 1001 children's books list??? Seriously??? Crispin is a horrible spoiled brat. My favorite character in this book was the empty box he got for Christmas. Yes, I understand it is about him learning to share and make friends, but he is still horrible. He is slightly better in a future book, which I wouldn't have read if I had been able to get this one first.
December 22, 2011
Super cute illustrations and great story. Crispin reminds me a little of Too Many Toys by David Shannon (a favorite at our house.) Crispin is a rather spoiled little pig who has too many toys and does not take care of them. But then he gets a box. And he and his friends have so many adventures with the box. It is the best toy of all. So much truth in that. After buying a treadmill 4 years ago, my husband turned the box into a playhouse for our kids and they played in it nearly every day for 6 or 7 months.
December 26, 2019
I enjoyed reading this book so much as I thought it had such a great meaning behind it alongside the illustration. Given that it was a lightened funny book, I felt it presented itself in a great manner in terms of trying to encourage children to use their imagination with the things they have around them. When reading it, it occurred to me that this would be a great book to read around Christmas as it would encourage children to love every present they got as things may often surprise us when we find out what we can use them for.
December 18, 2017
Pleasantly surprised with this one. It’s a great way to teach the value of friendship and imagination without being too preachy.
September 28, 2021
So this is not the greatest book ever but my kids’ reactions to reading it out loud added an entire star to its original rating! Crispin is a brat, thanks to this book we now have a family say. You don’t need much to have fun, just a box. We may have missed the moral of the story (wink, wink) but this book will always have a special place in my heart!
January 31, 2018
3.5 out of 5 stars.
January 15, 2021
3.5 stars
Nice story with a good moral. My only criticism is that some of the toys and technology mentioned are way out of date, but that’s bound to happen in so many cases.
Nice story with a good moral. My only criticism is that some of the toys and technology mentioned are way out of date, but that’s bound to happen in so many cases.
July 21, 2022
Super Cute. I loved this one. This is a great story and message. Highly recommend to everyone.
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February 4, 2016Crispin has all kinds of fancy toys and lives in a fancy home. But he tires easily of his toys and breaks them. One Christmas he receives a big gift from Santa labeled as containing the only thing Crispin doesn’t have, the very best thing in the whole wide world. But the big box is empty and Crispin, disappointed, shoves it outside. When a racoon and a rabbit try to take the box away, Crispin refuses to let them have it. They return the next day to play with the box, and in trying to chase them off, Crispin gets caught up in a game of Space Base. Soon Nick and Penny come over to play everyday and Crispin looks forward to playing with them.
August 23, 2019
I grew up with this book in my household and it was one of my favourite picture books that we owned. Straight out of the 2000s, Ted Dewan's charming and inventive illustrations bewitch the readers minds enveloping them into the story of Crispin: The Pig Who Had It All.
The themes this book deals with are still relevant today and show the importance of friendship and imagination are the best gifts anyone can have. Also these illustrations are so inspiring, each character is individually distinct with little quirky elements incorporated into their clothing.
I would 10/10 recommend this to everybody as the values in this book need to be kept and cherished, I had a BLAST🚀
The themes this book deals with are still relevant today and show the importance of friendship and imagination are the best gifts anyone can have. Also these illustrations are so inspiring, each character is individually distinct with little quirky elements incorporated into their clothing.
I would 10/10 recommend this to everybody as the values in this book need to be kept and cherished, I had a BLAST🚀
July 20, 2011
With bright pages, familiar characters and a bit of imagination kids will love this book. Don't know why our local library doesn't have it - I'm putting in a request. Great for 3yrs+
Who doesn't love to play with a huge box? The possibilities are .... well possibilities. And they are truly endless. Our new TV last month came in a big box and my youngest was like 'yeah, yeah' new tele, but when he saw the box - it was magic.
After reading this I think it within my box-magic powers to grant every child their wish - friends - in boxes.
Who doesn't love to play with a huge box? The possibilities are .... well possibilities. And they are truly endless. Our new TV last month came in a big box and my youngest was like 'yeah, yeah' new tele, but when he saw the box - it was magic.
After reading this I think it within my box-magic powers to grant every child their wish - friends - in boxes.
December 26, 2025
The wonderful Christmas story about Crispin who has every imaginable toy and is bored with all of it. When he gets an empty box for Christmas, he is devastated. "In this box you will find the only thing you do not have. It's the very best thing in the whole wide world." However, he learns that with some creative friends, the box becomes a space base, a store, a castle, and a pirate ship. With playful illustrations and a lighthearted message about using your imagination instead of relying on gadgets, this is a fun story to share at Christmas!
March 1, 2016
Amazing how in 32 pages Dewan represents the disadvantages of our throw-away society. He shows how material objects aren't all that important and that actually with friends and an imagination a lot of fun can be had. The role of the parents and the housekeeper is also interesting in this story, and it could perhaps be used to talk with children about the relationship that they have with their parents.
July 24, 2009
Crispin the pig has all the cool toys but he loses interest in them and breaks them. Then one Christmas he gets the best toy ever-an empty box. Eventually he makes friends and uses his imagination and it truly becomes the best toy ever! Great book to read around Christmas time and teaches a great lesson about caring for your toys, friendship, and imagination.
July 17, 2011
Crispin is a little pig who has it all. Every year at Christmas he gets the latest and greatest toys, only to have them break or he becomes bored with them just weeks later. This year for Christmas, Santa gives him a great big box. Crispin and his friends come to love this box and their imagination just soars when they play in it. I love the message this book sends!
December 31, 2011
Crispin is the pig who has it all. Every year for Christmas he gets the latest most coolest and fanciest toy, but soon he gets bored and the cool toys break. This Christmas he was given the only thing he did not have...an imagination. This special gift also helps Crispin to make friends.
Great story with fun illustrations.
Great story with fun illustrations.
October 17, 2015
This kid puts Dudley Dursley to shame! Showered in all presents except perhaps that of parental love (and time)and certainly devoid of gift of imagination, Crispin the pig receives his most memorable present (far more memorable than an xbox, a robot, a huge tv). He receives an empty box. A great lesson on the importance of imagination; friends over consumerism and love over wealth.
December 1, 2015
In this picture book, Crispin the pig is spoiled and rich. Then Crispin receives an empty box for Christmas. Suddenly his creativity is powered and he learns about the meaning of friendship and imagination.
January 6, 2018
This is a great children's book about how friends are more important than possessions and that anything can be made into a toy with enough imagination (the cardboard box!). Great lesson for kids.
December 23, 2008
Great book to read at Christmastime to remind kids that "having it all" does not mean being happy. I love how Crispin and his friends have so much fun with nothing more than a big box!
January 13, 2009
There's as much for adults to enjoy (and learn) as kids in this - the true test of a great picture book.
September 21, 2010
A delightful story about the superior value of friends and imagination over material possessions.
December 14, 2011
A perfect way to show kids that things aren't everything. Imagination and friendships are worth a lot more.
July 29, 2016
Certainly not subtle!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews