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Nanny Piggins #1
The Adventures of Nanny Piggins
Three children and their hilariously subversive nanny pig embark on zany adventures in this award-winning middle grade debut illustrated by Caldecott winnter Dan Santat.
The three Green children are cared for by a nanny pig. Yes, a pig--a fabulously sassy and impeccably dressed pig, as a matter of fact! With her insatiable urge to eat chocolate (and feed chocolate to everyone she loves), her high-flying spirit, and her unending sense of fun, Nanny Piggins takes Derrick, Samantha, and Michael on a year of surprises, yummy treats, and adventures they'll never forget.
It's no surprise that Booklist proclaimed, "Mary Poppins, move over--or get shoved out of the way." Nanny Piggins is a refreshing and dynamic addition to favorite classic Amelia Bedelia, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, and, of course, Mary Poppins.
Read more books in the Nanny Piggins and the Wicked Plan and Nanny Piggins and the Runaway Lion .
The three Green children are cared for by a nanny pig. Yes, a pig--a fabulously sassy and impeccably dressed pig, as a matter of fact! With her insatiable urge to eat chocolate (and feed chocolate to everyone she loves), her high-flying spirit, and her unending sense of fun, Nanny Piggins takes Derrick, Samantha, and Michael on a year of surprises, yummy treats, and adventures they'll never forget.
It's no surprise that Booklist proclaimed, "Mary Poppins, move over--or get shoved out of the way." Nanny Piggins is a refreshing and dynamic addition to favorite classic Amelia Bedelia, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, and, of course, Mary Poppins.
Read more books in the Nanny Piggins and the Wicked Plan and Nanny Piggins and the Runaway Lion .
256 pages, Hardcover
First published March 2, 2009
154 people are currently reading
1468 people want to read
About the author
R.A. Spratt
47 books366 followersR.A. Spratt is an award-winning author and television writer. She lives in Bowral, Australia with her husband and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 381 reviews
February 23, 2022
I requested this book for Ella, and because she loved it so much she insisted that I read it too. She wasn't wrong - it's very funny.
December 24, 2010
Don't judge a book by its cover, they say. To heck with that, say I. When it comes to books for kids, nine times out of ten you're going to end up judging a book on its cover no matter how much you try not to. That's because kids themselves judge books by their covers and if a jacket is dull as dishwater, I'm just as personally disinclined to avoid a boring looking book as a nine-year-old. I'm just that mature. Sometimes you'll like the cover of the book, though, and completely misinterpret what it's about. Take, for example, The Adventures of Nanny Piggins. I look at the cover of this book and the first thing I think is, "Oh. Another nanny book, only this time the catch is that the person in charge is a magical pig." I think I was expecting a porcine Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle or Mary Poppins. As it turns out, this first impression was more than a little off. Instead of Nurse Matilda what we're looking at here is a kind of hog version of Pippi Longstocking. What happens when you put a swine in charge of your children? The pig is going to be inclined to continue to do pig versions of things. Strangely enough, with its willful disregard of conventional norms, Nanny Piggins is one of the most refreshing morality-free tales for kids I've read in a great long while.
Mr. Green is cheap. Pretty much as cheap as you can get, actually. Since the death/disappearance of his beloved wife (beloved to others, not particularly to him) his three children have been running rather wild. Now he needs a nanny for them, and so the job goes to the cheapest nanny he can find. Enter Nanny Piggins. She's a former circus performer (a flying pig) with absolutely zero experience raising kids. That doesn't stop her for one minute, though. Before the kids know it they're harboring escapee Russian bears, falling in with Korean shipping vessels, confronting thieves, and baking more pies than it might seem conceivable to attempt eating.
Now the temptation is to believe that with the plot I've just described that this is a story in which the children are the strong sensible individuals and the person of authority (in this case, a flying pig) is the free spirit. Not the case. Nobody is particularly sensible in this book. The kids act like kids, perfectly willing to go along with whatever insane scheme Nanny Piggins has concocted to get them out of paying full price for uniforms and the like. The father's so cheap he's almost, but not quite, a villainous parody and every other adult you meet is either insane or two-dimensional. Rather than a problem, this makes the reading all the more enjoyable. There's something to be said for relying on nobody at all to be the voice of reason.
The danger with this book would be to make Nanny Piggins so self-involved and dedicated to things like chocolate that she is no longer likable. Fortunately, Spratt does a good job at balancing Piggins' quirks with elements that make her a fun companion to read about. It helps that she has little odd personal takes on things that no one else would be able to come up with. For example, there are a fair number of food-related truisms in this book to which I myself ascribe. "To her mind cake and fruit were opposing forces. It was an insult to cake to try and combine the two. Admittedly, banana cake was not as bad as carrot cake. Grinding up vegetables and putting them in cake was, in her opinion, an act of fraud that should be punishable by imprisonment." Amen.
I always like to spot when a British children's literature import has been vetted for Briticisms. In the case of Nanny Piggins the book was originally published in Australia and a lot of those Australianisms seem to have arrived on our shores intact (trousers, tradesmen, rubbish bins, etc.). The sole exception to this is probably the term "chocolate cookies" which probably went by a different name originally. I did wonder a little if the Disclaimer at the beginning of the book (informing the reader that one would do poorly to eat as Nanny Piggins and the kids do) is in both the Aussie and the American versions of this story, or if it was just the Yanks who insisted that the author include a quickie caveat.
Here in the States the illustrations have been tackled by the illustrious Dan Santat, which was kind of an inspired choice. Santat gives Piggins the right mix of perfect fashion sense with that unique self-centeredness she tends to harbor. On top of that he manages to filter in a fair number of references to famous works of art (one by Norman Rockwell comes to mind) and movies (the poster of The Exorcist). The result is a series of images that match Spratt's writing in terms of its light-hearted tone. No mean feat, all things considered.
Finally, the book sports what may be the most unexpected blurb I've seen on a children's title all year. It is, in fact, so unlikely that it is immediately followed by the words, "This is real!" as if to make it clear that this wasn't some strange concoction in a creative editor's brain. The quote reads, "The Adventures of Nanny Piggins is the most exciting saga about a flying pig nanny ever told. There is a laugh on every page. I recommend it highly." So says Madeleine K. Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State.
It's almost a relief to read a book like Nanny Piggins. In these days of books so chock full of morals and didacticism, it feels good to encounter a book where the main character is unapologetically going against the conventional grown-up wisdom in a way kids would love. And yes, she's going to be loathed by a certain segment of the adult population. Which is fine. She wasn't written for adults. She was written for kids and in the best tradition of unapologetic authors like Roald Dahl the books are funny, fun, and wholly original. A great addition to any library or personal collection. Just don't make the mistake of judging it by its cover.
For ages 8-12.
Mr. Green is cheap. Pretty much as cheap as you can get, actually. Since the death/disappearance of his beloved wife (beloved to others, not particularly to him) his three children have been running rather wild. Now he needs a nanny for them, and so the job goes to the cheapest nanny he can find. Enter Nanny Piggins. She's a former circus performer (a flying pig) with absolutely zero experience raising kids. That doesn't stop her for one minute, though. Before the kids know it they're harboring escapee Russian bears, falling in with Korean shipping vessels, confronting thieves, and baking more pies than it might seem conceivable to attempt eating.
Now the temptation is to believe that with the plot I've just described that this is a story in which the children are the strong sensible individuals and the person of authority (in this case, a flying pig) is the free spirit. Not the case. Nobody is particularly sensible in this book. The kids act like kids, perfectly willing to go along with whatever insane scheme Nanny Piggins has concocted to get them out of paying full price for uniforms and the like. The father's so cheap he's almost, but not quite, a villainous parody and every other adult you meet is either insane or two-dimensional. Rather than a problem, this makes the reading all the more enjoyable. There's something to be said for relying on nobody at all to be the voice of reason.
The danger with this book would be to make Nanny Piggins so self-involved and dedicated to things like chocolate that she is no longer likable. Fortunately, Spratt does a good job at balancing Piggins' quirks with elements that make her a fun companion to read about. It helps that she has little odd personal takes on things that no one else would be able to come up with. For example, there are a fair number of food-related truisms in this book to which I myself ascribe. "To her mind cake and fruit were opposing forces. It was an insult to cake to try and combine the two. Admittedly, banana cake was not as bad as carrot cake. Grinding up vegetables and putting them in cake was, in her opinion, an act of fraud that should be punishable by imprisonment." Amen.
I always like to spot when a British children's literature import has been vetted for Briticisms. In the case of Nanny Piggins the book was originally published in Australia and a lot of those Australianisms seem to have arrived on our shores intact (trousers, tradesmen, rubbish bins, etc.). The sole exception to this is probably the term "chocolate cookies" which probably went by a different name originally. I did wonder a little if the Disclaimer at the beginning of the book (informing the reader that one would do poorly to eat as Nanny Piggins and the kids do) is in both the Aussie and the American versions of this story, or if it was just the Yanks who insisted that the author include a quickie caveat.
Here in the States the illustrations have been tackled by the illustrious Dan Santat, which was kind of an inspired choice. Santat gives Piggins the right mix of perfect fashion sense with that unique self-centeredness she tends to harbor. On top of that he manages to filter in a fair number of references to famous works of art (one by Norman Rockwell comes to mind) and movies (the poster of The Exorcist). The result is a series of images that match Spratt's writing in terms of its light-hearted tone. No mean feat, all things considered.
Finally, the book sports what may be the most unexpected blurb I've seen on a children's title all year. It is, in fact, so unlikely that it is immediately followed by the words, "This is real!" as if to make it clear that this wasn't some strange concoction in a creative editor's brain. The quote reads, "The Adventures of Nanny Piggins is the most exciting saga about a flying pig nanny ever told. There is a laugh on every page. I recommend it highly." So says Madeleine K. Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State.
It's almost a relief to read a book like Nanny Piggins. In these days of books so chock full of morals and didacticism, it feels good to encounter a book where the main character is unapologetically going against the conventional grown-up wisdom in a way kids would love. And yes, she's going to be loathed by a certain segment of the adult population. Which is fine. She wasn't written for adults. She was written for kids and in the best tradition of unapologetic authors like Roald Dahl the books are funny, fun, and wholly original. A great addition to any library or personal collection. Just don't make the mistake of judging it by its cover.
For ages 8-12.
March 5, 2011
As posted on Outside of a Dog:
Nanny Piggins is not your ordinary nanny. Nor is she, for that matter, your ordinary pig. She is the star of The Adventures of Nanny Piggins, by R.A. Spratt, and is extraordinary in nearly every way. She paints wonderful portraits (of herself, of course), she is a master of being shot out of a cannon, and she bakes the world’s best pies, pies so wonderful that she can’t bear to leave them uneaten. And Nanny Piggins eats a lot. Not just pies, but cakes, toast, cotton candy and chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate. Basically, Nanny Piggins is the best nanny in the world, if you’re Derrick, Samantha and Michael Green.
You see, the Derrick, Samantha and Michael Green are the children of Mr. Green, and Mr. Green is just about the cheapest, stingiest man in the world. He works very hard helping rich people avoid paying their taxes, and finds no reason why he should spend any time with his children, let alone any money on them. So when the children’s mother dies in an unfortunate boating accident and subsequent require the services of a nanny, Mr. Green plants a sign in his front garden and waits for applicants to present themselves. In walks Sarah Piggins, having recently left the circus, where she enjoyed the life of a star flying pig. She knows nothing about being a nanny, and Mr. Green isn’t sure he wants to hire a pig, but she offers one thing he can’t refuse: she’s cheap, agreeing to work for only ten cents an hour. Nanny acquired, Mr. Green can go back to ignoring his children, and Sarah, now Nanny Piggins has a new career. What follows is a series of adventures featuring Nanny Piggins and the children, including school uniform shopping that turns into a trip to the amusement park, a trip to the beach nearly ruined by a terrible storm, and the arrival of Nanny’s adopted brother, Boris, the world’s best ballet dancing bear.
One might be tempted to compare Nanny Piggins to other nannies in children’s literature, but is certainly no Mary Poppins, or even Nurse Matilda (the inspiration for the film Nanny McPhee – which is delightful, by the way). Nanny Piggins is a bit unlike any character I’ve come across before. She’s incredible quick witted, though quite ignorant about certain details, like homework and the ocean. She eats much and messily, but I always got the impression she was always well-dressed (this impression is no doubt due in part to Dan Santat’s charming, but somewhat unnecessary illustrations). She’s a hoot. The children are somewhat one dimensional characters, and I never really got a hold of them, but Nanny Piggins is such a powerhouse that I hardly noticed.
There’s a side to the book that is a little subversive, and some might call dangerous. Spratt is certainly playing it close with the wild and unhealthy lifestyle that the Green children live while under Nanny Piggins’ care. They seem to eat nothing but junk food, are encouraged to skip school and engage in such reckless behavior as throwing heavy objects off the roof. It brings up the question of how responsible should fictional characters be, or rather, how much weight do we give to their irresponsibility when it comes to young readers? Spratt gets away with what she does, I think, largely due to the books fantastic nature. The main character is a pie-baking, talking, flying pig. There’s no attempt at realism here. The Adventures of Nanny Piggins is flat out comic fantasy, and a wonderful dose of laughs. This is a perfect rainy day book (she writes as it storms outside), certain to charm you. It’s almost as good as chocolate.
Nanny Piggins is not your ordinary nanny. Nor is she, for that matter, your ordinary pig. She is the star of The Adventures of Nanny Piggins, by R.A. Spratt, and is extraordinary in nearly every way. She paints wonderful portraits (of herself, of course), she is a master of being shot out of a cannon, and she bakes the world’s best pies, pies so wonderful that she can’t bear to leave them uneaten. And Nanny Piggins eats a lot. Not just pies, but cakes, toast, cotton candy and chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate. Basically, Nanny Piggins is the best nanny in the world, if you’re Derrick, Samantha and Michael Green.
You see, the Derrick, Samantha and Michael Green are the children of Mr. Green, and Mr. Green is just about the cheapest, stingiest man in the world. He works very hard helping rich people avoid paying their taxes, and finds no reason why he should spend any time with his children, let alone any money on them. So when the children’s mother dies in an unfortunate boating accident and subsequent require the services of a nanny, Mr. Green plants a sign in his front garden and waits for applicants to present themselves. In walks Sarah Piggins, having recently left the circus, where she enjoyed the life of a star flying pig. She knows nothing about being a nanny, and Mr. Green isn’t sure he wants to hire a pig, but she offers one thing he can’t refuse: she’s cheap, agreeing to work for only ten cents an hour. Nanny acquired, Mr. Green can go back to ignoring his children, and Sarah, now Nanny Piggins has a new career. What follows is a series of adventures featuring Nanny Piggins and the children, including school uniform shopping that turns into a trip to the amusement park, a trip to the beach nearly ruined by a terrible storm, and the arrival of Nanny’s adopted brother, Boris, the world’s best ballet dancing bear.
One might be tempted to compare Nanny Piggins to other nannies in children’s literature, but is certainly no Mary Poppins, or even Nurse Matilda (the inspiration for the film Nanny McPhee – which is delightful, by the way). Nanny Piggins is a bit unlike any character I’ve come across before. She’s incredible quick witted, though quite ignorant about certain details, like homework and the ocean. She eats much and messily, but I always got the impression she was always well-dressed (this impression is no doubt due in part to Dan Santat’s charming, but somewhat unnecessary illustrations). She’s a hoot. The children are somewhat one dimensional characters, and I never really got a hold of them, but Nanny Piggins is such a powerhouse that I hardly noticed.
There’s a side to the book that is a little subversive, and some might call dangerous. Spratt is certainly playing it close with the wild and unhealthy lifestyle that the Green children live while under Nanny Piggins’ care. They seem to eat nothing but junk food, are encouraged to skip school and engage in such reckless behavior as throwing heavy objects off the roof. It brings up the question of how responsible should fictional characters be, or rather, how much weight do we give to their irresponsibility when it comes to young readers? Spratt gets away with what she does, I think, largely due to the books fantastic nature. The main character is a pie-baking, talking, flying pig. There’s no attempt at realism here. The Adventures of Nanny Piggins is flat out comic fantasy, and a wonderful dose of laughs. This is a perfect rainy day book (she writes as it storms outside), certain to charm you. It’s almost as good as chocolate.
June 3, 2012
I LOVE Nanny Piggins!
If you just want a good giggle, read this children's book about a very bad nanny. I quite enjoyed all of Nanny Piggins' adventures with the Green children, and can hardly wait until the second book comes out so I can laugh long and loud again.
This will definitely be a read-aloud book for Tony when he gets a bit older.
Here are some of my favorite passages:
"Nanny Piggins lost the Vegetable Peeling, Gutter Cleaning, and Long Division Explaining tests as well. She got caught telling Michael, 'Don't bother to learn that. Long division is a waste of brain space, when you can just buy a calculator.' Which is only the truth."
And another, while Nanny Piggins and the children are at an art museum:
"'You can tell which ones are the artists,' Nanny Piggins said loudly, for she could be instructive when she chose to be. 'They are the useless-looking one wearing cardigans.' There were indeed several useless-looking, grouchy young men wearing cardigans among the crowd. And those who had heard Nanny Piggins's comment glared at her instead of glaring meaningfully into empty space like they normally did."
And, one final one, about children's place in the home (according to Mr. Green):
"'Samantha, what have I told you?' demanded Mr. Green.
'That I should be seen, and not heard, until I turn eighteen. When I can say 'Good-bye, I'm returning my key' before moving out of home.' chanted Samantha."
Heeheeheehee.
LOVE Nanny Piggins!
If you just want a good giggle, read this children's book about a very bad nanny. I quite enjoyed all of Nanny Piggins' adventures with the Green children, and can hardly wait until the second book comes out so I can laugh long and loud again.
This will definitely be a read-aloud book for Tony when he gets a bit older.
Here are some of my favorite passages:
"Nanny Piggins lost the Vegetable Peeling, Gutter Cleaning, and Long Division Explaining tests as well. She got caught telling Michael, 'Don't bother to learn that. Long division is a waste of brain space, when you can just buy a calculator.' Which is only the truth."
And another, while Nanny Piggins and the children are at an art museum:
"'You can tell which ones are the artists,' Nanny Piggins said loudly, for she could be instructive when she chose to be. 'They are the useless-looking one wearing cardigans.' There were indeed several useless-looking, grouchy young men wearing cardigans among the crowd. And those who had heard Nanny Piggins's comment glared at her instead of glaring meaningfully into empty space like they normally did."
And, one final one, about children's place in the home (according to Mr. Green):
"'Samantha, what have I told you?' demanded Mr. Green.
'That I should be seen, and not heard, until I turn eighteen. When I can say 'Good-bye, I'm returning my key' before moving out of home.' chanted Samantha."
Heeheeheehee.
LOVE Nanny Piggins!
May 14, 2011
I was very disappointed in this book, after hearing some very favorable reviews.
Mary Poppins was subversive in a good way, in that she violated rules and "standards" for things that benefited the children. Nanny Piggins is subversive by being greedy, selfish and dishonest, and teaches children that it's okay to lie, cheat and steal as long as you have a good time while you're doing it. Lying to the school so that the children can ditch and go watch horse races? Stealing the money for their school uniforms so that they can all go to an amusement park and buy lots of chocolate, and then cheating the school out of replacement money? By the end of the book, I had the feeling that she was more like an evil Cat in the Hat than like a humorous nanny. Under her influence, and the lack of any influence at all from their neglectful father, I expect these children to turn into arch-criminals by their teen years.
By the end of the book, Nanny Piggins has become the "anti-Poppins".
The only positive aspect is that the story pokes fun at a lot of bad behavior by other characters, but since nobody in the book does anything BUT misbehave, this isn't as successful as it should have been.
The illustrations are cute, but the artist has trouble with the relative sizes of the characters.
Mary Poppins was subversive in a good way, in that she violated rules and "standards" for things that benefited the children. Nanny Piggins is subversive by being greedy, selfish and dishonest, and teaches children that it's okay to lie, cheat and steal as long as you have a good time while you're doing it. Lying to the school so that the children can ditch and go watch horse races? Stealing the money for their school uniforms so that they can all go to an amusement park and buy lots of chocolate, and then cheating the school out of replacement money? By the end of the book, I had the feeling that she was more like an evil Cat in the Hat than like a humorous nanny. Under her influence, and the lack of any influence at all from their neglectful father, I expect these children to turn into arch-criminals by their teen years.
By the end of the book, Nanny Piggins has become the "anti-Poppins".
The only positive aspect is that the story pokes fun at a lot of bad behavior by other characters, but since nobody in the book does anything BUT misbehave, this isn't as successful as it should have been.
The illustrations are cute, but the artist has trouble with the relative sizes of the characters.
February 25, 2022
Gave this a reread after I met the fantastic author at a signing, she was as hilarious and engaging as her stories!
Truly fantastic kids literature, a favourite of mine both at 9 and now, the writing is giggle worthy for all ages (for example, Aunt Lydia dislikes things by setting them on fire, go off queen). Each chapter reads as its own little story, and it's entertaining fun to see what the Green children, Sarah and Boris all get up to; I definitely got my love of chocolate, and my impractical spending habits from this series of novels, and I wouldn't change a bit of it. Plus I forgot Nanny Piggins loved to read romance novels!! Truly a circus icon, and my idol. I would vote for her self portrait.
Truly fantastic kids literature, a favourite of mine both at 9 and now, the writing is giggle worthy for all ages (for example, Aunt Lydia dislikes things by setting them on fire, go off queen). Each chapter reads as its own little story, and it's entertaining fun to see what the Green children, Sarah and Boris all get up to; I definitely got my love of chocolate, and my impractical spending habits from this series of novels, and I wouldn't change a bit of it. Plus I forgot Nanny Piggins loved to read romance novels!! Truly a circus icon, and my idol. I would vote for her self portrait.
May 28, 2013
Hilarious so far!!
The kids tell her that nannies tell them to tidy their rooms, take a bath, or to be quiet. She replies, "Well, you can do that if you like. But I'm going to go to the kitchen and go through all the cupboards looking for things that contain sugar. Then eat as much as I can until I feel sick. You can join me if you like."
She finds out they have to start up school soon. Their dad gives her $500 to buy uniforms and supplies. She is astounded of the concept of school and perceives it to be a form of punishment.
"That [school] sounds so terribly undemocratic, said Nanny Piggins. She was deeply shocked. "I thought we fought wars against dictators to prevent these sorts of things. Isn't this exactly why the French cut the heads off all their kings and queens?"
The children's knowledge of history was even less precise than Nanny Piggins's, but they were happy to agree with someone so sympathetic on this point. "We thought so."
"But who came up with such a mean-spirited idea?" asked Nanny Piggins. She was becoming increasingly horrified by the widely accepted brutality of universal education.
"The government," Derrick informed her.
"Of course, I might have known," said Nanny Piggins. "All the greatest psychopaths and evil villains end up in politics. If the government is behind it, I suppose there is nothing that can be done."
The kids tell her that nannies tell them to tidy their rooms, take a bath, or to be quiet. She replies, "Well, you can do that if you like. But I'm going to go to the kitchen and go through all the cupboards looking for things that contain sugar. Then eat as much as I can until I feel sick. You can join me if you like."
She finds out they have to start up school soon. Their dad gives her $500 to buy uniforms and supplies. She is astounded of the concept of school and perceives it to be a form of punishment.
"That [school] sounds so terribly undemocratic, said Nanny Piggins. She was deeply shocked. "I thought we fought wars against dictators to prevent these sorts of things. Isn't this exactly why the French cut the heads off all their kings and queens?"
The children's knowledge of history was even less precise than Nanny Piggins's, but they were happy to agree with someone so sympathetic on this point. "We thought so."
"But who came up with such a mean-spirited idea?" asked Nanny Piggins. She was becoming increasingly horrified by the widely accepted brutality of universal education.
"The government," Derrick informed her.
"Of course, I might have known," said Nanny Piggins. "All the greatest psychopaths and evil villains end up in politics. If the government is behind it, I suppose there is nothing that can be done."
May 9, 2017
My 9 year old and I are LOVING these books. NP is brilliantly subversive and totally hilarious. She encourages terrible behavior and gets away with it every time. She promotes eating cake and playing games over going to school or cleaning up, and I, for one, am all for it. Too many books for this age group have an underlying message of conformity that totally sucks all the joy and freedom out of them. Not so Nanny Piggins: She's a bad pig, and she's incredible. The writing is witty and smart and totally entertaining. We're half way through the second one now, and every time I see how many there are ahead of us I am totally stoked. As another reviewer pointed out, each chapter is a story in its own right, making it perfect for reading aloud. There are plot elements that extend throughout, so it's also got a depth of character development that is perfect for kids of this age (I'd say elementary 2nd or 3rd grade up to middle school, although they're so fun even my older kids would enjoy them). I am a confirmed fan of Ms. Spratt, she's amazing.
November 9, 2010
I started out really enjoying this book but then my enthusiasm waned a little. It is a strange,sometimes charming, sometimes funny book about 3 children who end up with a pig for a nanny. It has a "Roald Dahl" feel to it in the sense that everything this nanny does for the children is any child's wildest dream come true (cake for breakfast, going to an amusement park instead of buying school clothes, throwing things off the roof, a big bear living in the backyard shed, etc.) Even now, I can't decide whether to recommend it or not...
November 16, 2013
Good read aloud. My third graders loved it! Sort of a Mrs. Piggle Wiggle meets Mary Poppins.
April 13, 2024
Funny for kids and adults :) It reminded me of A Series of Unfortunate Events but happy and lighthearted instead.
September 21, 2010
I was given 3 books to read, all of them to judge on which one would be good for a teacher to read to her 7 year olds.
I have to say by far that THIS was my favorite book out of the 3. It actually had me laughing out loud on quite a few occasions. This novel is perfect for children and for teachers. It's like a childrens movie that has a hint of adult humor so the parents won't get bored.
Also all the chapters are their own...Meaning you don't really need to read them in any order which could be handy.
It was really nice to read a light hearted book, probably something I needed to read after having quite a few misses (besides Kite Runner).
My imagination was constatly on the move while reading the adventures that Nanny Piggins goes on.
The only thing I didn't like about the book was Boris the bear. I won't go into any detail about him because that would spoil the book but to me, he was kind of a pest..lol
I dunno but call me crazy but the book kind of felt 'fresh'...It didn't have a hint of vampires or pirates or ninjas...Things that fill the mainstream market these days. It was just pure unadulterated fun. I can see young kids getting a good giggle out of the book no matter their gender.
Heh...am I gushing over a childrens novel? :P I don't care either..eehehehe
I have to say by far that THIS was my favorite book out of the 3. It actually had me laughing out loud on quite a few occasions. This novel is perfect for children and for teachers. It's like a childrens movie that has a hint of adult humor so the parents won't get bored.
Also all the chapters are their own...Meaning you don't really need to read them in any order which could be handy.
It was really nice to read a light hearted book, probably something I needed to read after having quite a few misses (besides Kite Runner).
My imagination was constatly on the move while reading the adventures that Nanny Piggins goes on.
The only thing I didn't like about the book was Boris the bear. I won't go into any detail about him because that would spoil the book but to me, he was kind of a pest..lol
I dunno but call me crazy but the book kind of felt 'fresh'...It didn't have a hint of vampires or pirates or ninjas...Things that fill the mainstream market these days. It was just pure unadulterated fun. I can see young kids getting a good giggle out of the book no matter their gender.
Heh...am I gushing over a childrens novel? :P I don't care either..eehehehe
April 1, 2020
We read this aloud to our kids and loved it. My husband and I were both laughing out loud and can’t wait to read the next books in the series!
February 8, 2021
The kids laughed and laughed and laughed.
July 21, 2021
this was one of my favorite books when i was nine. having reread it today, i have concluded that it is STILL a literary masterpiece.
September 14, 2021
still have all of these books. my entire childhood <33 don't particularly like r a spratt but adore her characters
December 31, 2024
This seemed like it would be promising, and the librarian recommended it to me to read to my kids, but there were several sarcastic remarks that were over the top in the beginning of the book that I had to filter out while trying to read to my kids aloud. I could tell this wasn't a book I wanted my kids reading.
Some examples are that it said the children could understand if their mother had gotten fed up enough with their father to have left him. I don't want my kids thinking we just leave a marriage when we're “fed up.”
I also don't want my kids thinking it's normal to not like their own parents. It said a couple of paragraphs later that the father only ever talked to the oldest boy to yell at him to cut his hair because he looked like a “scruffbag.” This is the kind of parent-child relationship that is portrayed in so many children's books as normal and I don't like it. Then, the next paragraph after that said that the daughter, simply because she's a girl, had even fewer conversations with her dad than her older brother did. So this is teaching kids that it's normal for daughters to talk to their fathers less often than sons do. I don't want my kids learning that.
“Derrick and Samantha bore the brunt of having to deal with Mr. Green. So Michael was able to get on with his life unhindered.” I do not like this attitude in some children's chapter books that parents are something kids have to “deal with.”
A few paragraphs later, it said the dad would've liked nothing more than to be relieved of responsibility for his children. This was right after it said the state had threatened to take them away. Why is this portrayed as normal to not want your kids?? Maybe it gets better later in the story. It felt like a Mary Poppins ending was coming later. But I didn't want my kids to learn all the bad things in between.
Later in that same paragraph it said that Mr. Green felt it would look bad if he had his children taken away, and that he wasn't paying attention when his wife fell off a boat, possibly drowning to death (we don't know at this point). This was all in the first page or two. What a strange book for children especially!
At the end of the first chapter, Nanny Piggins said she was going to the kitchen to raid the cupboards for anything containing sugar. The author said before the start of the book that kids should not copy Nanny Piggins's diet, but what kid is going to listen to one statement over a chapter book full of the MC eating everything sugary in sight? It also said she was the best nanny in the world because she let the children watch scary movies and eat sugary treats in place of meals. Again, no thank you!
Chapter two started with Nanny Piggins encouraging the children to read “trashy literature.” Then it said that Nanny Piggins realized that adults like their children to be quiet more than they like their children to have pure minds.
When the children told Nanny Piggins that they have to go to school every day M–F she reacted in disbelief and said, “I thought we fought wars against dictators to prevent these sorts of things. Isn't this exactly why the French cut the heads off all their kings and queens?” So it's teaching kids to hate school. And a few paragraphs later, one of the boys was thinking he needed to buy a geometry compass in case he might need to use the sharp end for self-defense against a bully at school. What?! What is that encouraging?? It was at this point that I closed the book and told my kids we were not reading this anymore. I'm ashamed I got so far before stopping, even with filtering most of it out.
Some examples are that it said the children could understand if their mother had gotten fed up enough with their father to have left him. I don't want my kids thinking we just leave a marriage when we're “fed up.”
I also don't want my kids thinking it's normal to not like their own parents. It said a couple of paragraphs later that the father only ever talked to the oldest boy to yell at him to cut his hair because he looked like a “scruffbag.” This is the kind of parent-child relationship that is portrayed in so many children's books as normal and I don't like it. Then, the next paragraph after that said that the daughter, simply because she's a girl, had even fewer conversations with her dad than her older brother did. So this is teaching kids that it's normal for daughters to talk to their fathers less often than sons do. I don't want my kids learning that.
“Derrick and Samantha bore the brunt of having to deal with Mr. Green. So Michael was able to get on with his life unhindered.” I do not like this attitude in some children's chapter books that parents are something kids have to “deal with.”
A few paragraphs later, it said the dad would've liked nothing more than to be relieved of responsibility for his children. This was right after it said the state had threatened to take them away. Why is this portrayed as normal to not want your kids?? Maybe it gets better later in the story. It felt like a Mary Poppins ending was coming later. But I didn't want my kids to learn all the bad things in between.
Later in that same paragraph it said that Mr. Green felt it would look bad if he had his children taken away, and that he wasn't paying attention when his wife fell off a boat, possibly drowning to death (we don't know at this point). This was all in the first page or two. What a strange book for children especially!
At the end of the first chapter, Nanny Piggins said she was going to the kitchen to raid the cupboards for anything containing sugar. The author said before the start of the book that kids should not copy Nanny Piggins's diet, but what kid is going to listen to one statement over a chapter book full of the MC eating everything sugary in sight? It also said she was the best nanny in the world because she let the children watch scary movies and eat sugary treats in place of meals. Again, no thank you!
Chapter two started with Nanny Piggins encouraging the children to read “trashy literature.” Then it said that Nanny Piggins realized that adults like their children to be quiet more than they like their children to have pure minds.
When the children told Nanny Piggins that they have to go to school every day M–F she reacted in disbelief and said, “I thought we fought wars against dictators to prevent these sorts of things. Isn't this exactly why the French cut the heads off all their kings and queens?” So it's teaching kids to hate school. And a few paragraphs later, one of the boys was thinking he needed to buy a geometry compass in case he might need to use the sharp end for self-defense against a bully at school. What?! What is that encouraging?? It was at this point that I closed the book and told my kids we were not reading this anymore. I'm ashamed I got so far before stopping, even with filtering most of it out.
May 3, 2023
I generally enjoyed this book and found it funny. However, its morals are definitely lacking. From the start, the father is characterized as mean and stupid, and that never changes during the book. Nanny Piggins steals, lies, and manipulates to solve problems. And yet, I don't think a child reading this book would see Nanny Piggen's actions as something that could be copied. The character is so ridiculous with her constant consumption of chocolate that I think most kids could read this book and not be tempted towards bad behavior. There is also a mention at the beginning of the book that the mother died in a boating accident. Towards the end of the book, it is mentioned that the Uncle also died in a separate boating accident, but that they both died in a boating accident seems suspicious. It just barely hints that perhaps the father and his sister are murders. But only a few sentences are spent on this idea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2022
I read this to my kids upon a recommendation. As a read-aloud, it was a nice, easy read. The chapters aren’t too long and mostly stand on their own, so it’s easy to pick up and put down, as needed. I know this book was written to be funny. Many parts, we did find to be funny. Other parts, I felt the need to say, “Now you guys know…” Our kids are old enough to know many of the behaviors and things the characters say in this book are outside the realm of acceptable behavior. I just caution parents that your kids MAY get ideas for some naughty behaviors, especially if they’re too young to realize these things are written just to be funny and NOT to model after your behavior.
I’d be willing to just call it done with this one book, but my kids all voted that they would like to listen to more, so off to the second book we go.
I’d be willing to just call it done with this one book, but my kids all voted that they would like to listen to more, so off to the second book we go.
October 9, 2017
Mr. Green is a tax lawyer and penny pincher. In fact, he hates paying for anything and that’s why several nannies have left since his wife’s death. To avoid paying for an ad, Mr. Green makes a homemade sign and sticks it in the front yard. Nanny Piggins, to escape the circus, discovers the sign and gets the job.
The storyline is ridiculous and silly. Nanny is really a horrible nanny, yet somehow keeps the children relatively safe though they all seem to survive on chocolate. In my opinion, however, there is no character arc and is about 100 pages too long.
If you have an upper elementary kid looking for a fun, mindless read, go ahead.
The storyline is ridiculous and silly. Nanny is really a horrible nanny, yet somehow keeps the children relatively safe though they all seem to survive on chocolate. In my opinion, however, there is no character arc and is about 100 pages too long.
If you have an upper elementary kid looking for a fun, mindless read, go ahead.
December 29, 2020
What could go wrong when your father is a miserly man who doesn't like to spend money on anything or interact with his children? After he hired a former circus star pig as your nanny, nothing. Hilarity ensues. There's a lot of chocolate and pie consumed. Not to mention a singing bear from Russia, a doorknob thief, and a would-be intruder who will never do that again. The chapters are longer so we split them up into chunks and it took us awhile to get through it simply because we don't read together for bedtime nearly often enough. We loved it. Totally give it 5 stars and encourage you to read it for some laughs.
December 22, 2021
This one was a hoot. Clearly a subversive parody of Mary Poppins, Nanny Piggins is anything but practically perfect. But she won't let you know it. The zany humor level of this book is way up there, with rule-breaking and chocolate-eating in abundance. I don't know that I can really adequately describe the ridiculous situations or off-the-wall capers in this book. Boris the ex-circus bear was my favorite.
January 15, 2024
this book is so funny. i love reading books from my childhood, that just bring back so much nostalgia. this book is so special to me as i read it so many times over the years. nanny piggins is so iconic and the children are so funny! originally i hated boris, but over time, i have learned to love him, more than any another character.
July 30, 2021
This book was comically fantastic. I highly recommend listening to this on family road trips. Greg and I laughed out loud - a lot on jokes that were very funny and way above my children's heads. Will definitely definitely definitely be reading more Nanny Piggins in my life. Absolutely.
March 4, 2022
This was exactly what we wanted for our next read aloud… just plain funny and silly. She is a nanny and a pig who loves chocolate, going on adventures and breaking every rule a normal parent may have. It is a fun read aloud.
October 1, 2017
I never log the zillions of kids books Cam and I read on here, but this one made me laugh so hard, I wanted to make sure to remember it. Hooray for Nanny Piggins!
January 8, 2018
It was a funny Mary poppins style story, with the cunning genius of a circus pig nanny.
May 19, 2020
Really fun read-aloud with my kindergartener.
April 19, 2022
3.5 stars
Started out with funny mishaps and adventures, but as it went on it got more into putting down the dad and encouraging not great behaviors.
Kids liked it more than I did
Started out with funny mishaps and adventures, but as it went on it got more into putting down the dad and encouraging not great behaviors.
Kids liked it more than I did
Read
April 30, 2024I read this with my third grader. It was fun and silly and ridiculous and we both enjoyed it. A great read aloud with elementary kids.
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