Piggins

Piggins

by Jane Yolen, Jane Dyer (Illustrator)

Piggins the butler solves the mysterious disappearance of Mrs. Reynard’s diamond lavaliere with the help of a delightful set of characters. “One of a kind--and sure to provide a great deal of fun for many readers and listeners.”-- School Library Journal

Genres: Picture Books, Mystery, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Jane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.

Reviews

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane Yolen wrote this with "Upstairs, Downstairs" (the Masterpiece Theater) series in mind. Piggins, the butler, solves a mystery with the help of the rest of the staff. What really makes this special are the beautiful and humorous illustrations of Jane Dyer.

[Clara Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of our read-aloud favorites! Piggins is a butler, he's a pig, and he's a mystery-solver! This book has great, detailed illustrations.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delight! In an elegant stately home, faithful butler Piggins serves up not only a fine pot of tea, but the sage detective skills needed to solve a mystery when a jewel is stolen at a dinner party.

I love house party mysteries, and I love the upstairs/downstairs aspect to the story. The illustrations are just so cute and full of lovely period detail mixed with the whimsy of the cast of animal characters, from alligators to hedgehogs. I thought the pacing could have been a bit better, but overall it's a delight and I'd love to read more Piggins stories since they are definitely my cup of tea ;-)

[Panda Incognito · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an entertaining locked-room mystery for the picture book crowd. I especially like the cutaway illustrations of the different floors of the house, and even though I can't remember for the life of me where I recently learned about this book, I'm glad that I heard of it somewhere, because it was quite unique and interesting. I would like to read the sequels someday when the ILL system reopens.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I cannot emphasize enough how much I detested the illustrations of the various animal characters: pig, rats, turtle, foxes, rabbit, dog, yes dog, etc. I actually had to look away at times in order to enjoy the other parts of the illustrations and the story. I didn’t find them aesthetically pleasing; I thought they were ugly.

The illustrations of the rooms and their contents, and the outdoor scene, those I really enjoyed. It was fun to view all the details in the pictures.

The story is just somewhat reminiscent of Masterpiece Theater’s Upstairs Downstairs, in my opinion one of the best shows that has ever been on television. (I read this because Upstairs Downstairs was brought up when this book was being discussed.) Piggins is a loyal butler who solves a mystery for his employers, a mystery that I immediately solved but might be a fun exercise for younger readers/listeners and others who haven’t had a lot of experience with “closed room”/”locked room” mysteries and other mystery stories.

Yolen (the author) and Dyer (the illustrator) are friends and on the inside back cover of the book there is a lovely photograph of them together and their bio section is amusing and sweet.

Despite my horror of the animal pictures I did enjoy this humorous picture book.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of a trilogy, I loved these books about the oh so proper pig butler who solves mysteries for his fox employers. Each book begins with an illustration of Piggins climbing the kitchen stairs, and on the next page, an illustration of a cut-away of the Reynard house. In the penultimate illustration, there is another cut-away of the Reynard house, at night, after all the excitement of the day. In the final illustration, Piggins is going back down the kitchen stairs.
In this first mystery, Piggins solves the disappearance of Mrs. Reynard's diamond lavaliere.
Jane Dyer's watercolor and colored pencil illustrations were full of interesting details and appealing animals characters.
Even though in picture book format, these stories are all a bit wordy, and so would be best for elementary-age students.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the reason I became a huge reader.

[Andrea Thomas, Greenville · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great and fun book to read aloud to students. It has great vocabulary words and could be used to teach students how to use context clues in reading.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was a kid. I read it a million times!!

[Kristi Schow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Piggins is an adorable mystery story about a butler who solves the case of the missing diamond lavaliere. It goes missing during a dinner party Mr. and Mrs. Reynard are hosting. The couple had planned to sell it to one of their guests. They had decided the diamond lavaliere was cursed, but before they could sell the beautiful necklace it disappeared. Piggins is on the case! The illustrations are beautiful and sure to delight the reader.

Educators this is a fun formula fiction book for your students. Students will enjoy the predictable plot: something goes missing, clues are followed, and the object is found and has a happy ending. This story would be good for students to gain confidence in making predictions. It would also be a good piece of literature to use as a mentor text to introduce the genre of mysteries. Students could write their own mysteries, or maybe a spinoff of another case for Piggins. The word choice the author used is sure to help your students expand their vocabulary. Some of the word choices would be good add to a vocabulary wall in your classroom too.

[Ava Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piggins is such a fun book, I had never read it previously and loved it! With a wide variety of characters who have arrived for dinner, the butler Piggins helps to solve the mystery of the missing diamond lavaliere that supposedly has been cursed. The illustrations in this book offer bright colors and so many details that creates such an engaging text. The pictures can be looked at for a long time without even noticing all the details!
This piece of formula fiction highlights a structure that is often seen in children's literature, a mystery is presented and the book showcases each step in solving the puzzle by the end of the book. I would love to use this picture book as a mentor text for introducing a fictional writing unit. Often, my first graders don't choose to write mystery pieces but this text would be a great way to introduce the skill. As a group we could analyze the story's structure and then map out our own fictional mystery stories as well. I think that my students would love trying this out and would think Piggins is such a fun character!

[Amber Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Piggins by Jane Yolen is a fun picture book about a fancy dinner party where something valuable goes missing. Piggins, the pig butler, helps figure out what happened by paying close attention to the guests and clues. The story is full of colorful and detailed illustrations of animal characters dressed in fancy clothes.

This book choice would be great for children in grades 2 to 5 to enjoy a light mystery and practice thinking carefully about clues. Teachers could use this book to encourage students to make guesses and support their thinking with evidence from the story. They could also guide discussions about characters and why they might act a certain way. The detailed pictures help build observation skills, and the book's playful style can be used for acting out scenes or solving the mystery together. This book supports lessons on inference, problem-solving, and social understanding in a fun and engaging way.

[Pamela Hatch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Piggins / by Jane Yolen; illustrated by Jane Dyer -- Orlando, FL : Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers, c1987. (32 pages)

SUMMARY: During a dinner party, the lights go out and Mrs. Reynard's beautiful diamond necklace is stolen, but Piggins, the butler, quickly discovers the real thief. (verso)

REVIEW: I remember this being around when I worked in the children's department at the local library. I remember reading it, but nothing about the plot. So when I came across it recently, I decided to read it again. I love the illustrations that are rich in color and detail. But the story itself I found to be very long and drawn out (not sure if a kid would keep up with it). The author cleverly shows all the clues during the story and the reader may be able to solve the crime the same way that Piggins did.

NOTE: There are more titles in this series starring Piggins so I will try a few more.

SIMILAR TO: ROBBERY AT THE DIAMOND DOG DINER by Eileen Christelow

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Piggins by Jane Yolen is a dinner mystery reminiscent of mysteries by Agatha Christie. The animals show up to dinner in their most splendid of dress, only to be caught up in a robbery, a false accusation, and eventual resolution to the crime. The illustrations that accompany the text are beautifully detailed and sure to captivate young readers. The talking animals are a fantastic group, with an intellectual pig, a diva fox, and a rat who is, indeed, a rat! This story is a fun read for children, but it is the adults who will enjoy the mystery and suspense. Most young children do not have the experience with mystery novels, so that is why I only gave this book three stars.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Piggins is the butler at 47 The Meadows of the Reynards. The Reynards are having a dinner party in which they plan to sell a diamond necklace they feel is jinxed. Other guests include Inspector Bayswater, Professor T. Ortoise, Lord and Lady Ratslay and Pierre Latin and his three unmarried sisters. But before the night is over, someone at the party steals the necklace and it is Piggins who must solve the crime.

[Laurie Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun mystery formula fiction to use as a read aloud for children of all ages. The butler is accused of stealing something during a dinner party but he knows what he has served that evening and how clean he keeps the Reynard home so he follows the clues and the mystery is solved.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best.

[Vanessa Becerra]

The nanny Sarah has three pigs she takes care of but all they do is eat chocolate and stay up. These three pigs have fun adventures and are troublemakers.

[Rachel Swords · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember reading the Piggins books when I was little, so it was fun to go back and revisit the series.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this as a kid! May have kickstarted my love for mystery

[Christopher Seideman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine if you will that you’re invited to a lovely dinner by Mr. and Mrs. Reynard, a foxy (and ritzy) couple living at 47 The Meadows. You know such esteemed guests as Inspector Bayswater, Professor T. Ortoise, and the world-famous explorer Pierre Lapin, and Lord and Lady Ratsby will be there. Why not enjoy some wonderful service by the Reynard’s well-renowned kitchen staff and their astute butler, Piggins? You’d certainly be foolish to not attend! Thankfully, Jane Yolen has given you a special invitation into the night’s proceedings; one you certainly won’t forget!

Yolen’s writing style and carefully developed world are both charming and unique; writing a whodunit in the style of a screenplay instead of a simple narrative-driven story. Jane Dyer’s colored pencil and watercolor illustrations mimic this trend, using a set of framed pictures to show the happenings occurring throughout the house between the various characters. This style of writing and illustration leads readers to carefully scan the scene for anything that may be amiss, and sets the stage for the book’s final act. The world that’s drawn by Dyer is inviting, full of splashes of warm color combined with defined lines and shapes. It lends an interesting sense of depth to the scenes, with props, characters, and important details that stand out against the soft, blurred forms of the foliage and décor behind the characters.

Also, black shadow art is used to foreshadow what will occur in the next scene, yet is downplayed by being included within the same border as the text alongside a full page spread in color. These clever images are easy to miss, but lend to inference among young readers. A great mystery for readers of all ages (although simple to solve for the older crowd, I’m sure), Piggins is an enjoyable, short read. It also makes for a great play or read-aloud for those who are in 2nd – 5th grade.

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forty-seven The Meadows, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Reynard, is preparing for a dinner party. Everything is in readiness. Piggins, the butler, is quite pleased with the sparkling glasses and gleaming silver. The guests start arriving: Inspector Bayswater and his friend Professor T. Ortoise, Lord and Lady Ratsby, Pierre Lapin and his three sisters. They are pleasantly talking when Mr. and Mrs. Reynard come into the room. Mrs. Reynard is wearing her diamond lavaliere. When dinner is announced, Mr. and Mrs. Ratsby rush ahead of everyone. They have already eaten much of the cheese hors'doevres even putting some in their pockets. At dinner, Mr. Reynard announces that they feel forced to sell Mrs. Reynard's lavaliere, because there is a curse on the diamond. While the Reynards tell of all the unfortunate things that have happened to the owners of the diamond, the lights go out. A tinkling noise, a scramble of feet, several objects hitting the floor, and a scream are heard. When Piggins arrives with a candle, they discover that Mrs. Reynard's lavaliere is gone. Everyone is stumped but Piggins who provides the explanation. There were two thieves. Before dinner someone tied a piece of red thread to the light switch. At a signal, the thread was pulled and the lights extinguished. Under the cover of dark, someone took the necklace and walked on the table thus explaining the trail of cheese crumbs. (No cheese was served with dinner.) The tinkling sound was the chandelier. The scream was the signal for all clear. Piggins announces the thieves as Lord and Lady Ratsby. They are destitute and had hoped that the diamond would restore their fortune. The diamond lavaliere is found hanging in the chandelier. The Ratsbys promptly scuttle for the door, but the Misses Lapin catch them. They are taken away by the police.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[Mishaela Littlefield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. and Mrs. Reynard dress to the nines whenever they throw a party, and this time is no different. Mrs. Reynard shimmies into her embroidered pink gown, drapes a glittering sash over her bare shoulders and clasps her beloved diamond lavaliere around her neck while Mr. Reynard throws on a stark white button down with a tailored suit to top it all off. As the Reynards happily greet their fellow friends and neighbors, the guests admire her gleaming necklace with quiet compliments. As everyone sits around the dinner table brimming with food, the lights flicker out and Mrs. Reynard's precious lavaliere suddenly vanishes into thin air. Everyone is stumped as to who could have done it, but the watchful butler, Piggins, saw everything.

Piggins falls under the mystery category because the whole plot-line revolves around trying to solve who stole Mrs. Reynard's beloved lavaliere. The plot is suspenseful and keeps the reader on their toes throughout the whole story. The reader is able to try and solve the mystery along with Piggins as the book goes on. The characters are portrayed as animals of all shapes and sizes clad in human clothes paired with human-like expressions and emotions. The illustrations are smothered with colors on all sides of the spectrum and mixed with multiple different patterns and prints.

[Courtenay Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Piggins series. This series is about a butler, who also happens to be a pig, that solves mysteries. There are three books in the series so far. The style of the pictures are Victorian.
Piggins serves Mr. and Mrs. Reynard, two foxes at 47 The Meadows. The book explains what goes on throughout the house before guests arrive in a comic book fashion layout. When the guests arrive, Mrs. Reynard’s diamond necklace goes missing and Piggins solves the mystery. Everything goes back to normal after the guests leave with the same comic book layout of what is going on throughout the whole house. Piggins saved the day!
I really enjoyed this book. The illustrations are unique and really entertaining. I also like the names of the characters like Lord and Lady Ratsby (for the rats), Piggins for the pig, etc. It makes it easier for kids not to mix up the characters. The mysteries in these series are a little simple, but at least they are not too difficult for students to try to figure it out as they read. It can also teach students valuable lessons about trust and problem solving.

[Linda Lipko · Rating 2 out of 5]

Piggins the pig is the butler for the Reynards, a very rich couple who are foxes.

Hosting a party, The Reynards greet guests as they arrive, each couple decked out in their finest.

The couples are depicted in humorous fashion.

Before the event, the Mrs. cannot find her lovely expensive necklace. Intimating that perhaps Piggins stole it,

when it is discovered, nary a word about their implied accusation.

When the dinner begins, the lights go out and when turned back again, it is discovered that Mrs. Reynards diamond lavalier is missing.

Once again, Piggins is mentioned as a possible suspect.
Saving the day, Piggins discovers it was Mr. & Mrs. Rat who took the babble.

While not one of Yolen's best, it is a delightful tale with an underlying theme of how rich perceive those they deem beneath them.

[Angela Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Piggins by jane Yolen tells the story of some expensive, mysterious gems that go missing at a dinner party. You are given clues throughout the context of the book and are expected to make inferences about who stole the necklace with the expensive gems on it. In the end the butler, Piggins, solves the mystery. This would be a great book for the 2nd and 3rd grade level students. A great lesson to go along with it could be to make inferences as the story is read. Students would have to give evidence from the book to support their inferences. The illustrations in this book are very detailed and interesting. I especially like the emotion portrayed on the faces of the characters throughout the story. My favorite pages are the ones that show what is going on all over the big house by showing a view of the house "cut open."

[Aiyana Martinez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This adorable mystery book with a staring butler that is a pig solves a dinner party mystery of missing jewels. Now at first starting to read this book I assumed it would be the typical dinner party with a mystery party problem in waiting to be solved with a murder or missing money or in this story missing jewels. Well this is no typical murder mystery party. But this adorable mystery party surrounds the missing jewels around the butler. This adorable little pig butler goes through clues and mystery ways to finding who stole the jewels. Though out the book, the illustrator gave great detailed work in the story which I believe gave more depth and real life. It seemed like a very authentic book like bringing me back in time to the old days to where we had butlers and actual murder mystery dinners.

[Brigid Keely · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Piggins," by Jane Yolen, is a Victorian-ish talking animal mystery that taps into a lot of the tropes and conventions of classic mystery novels and shows but in a format kids can and will appreciate. The eponymous Piggins is the very able Butler for the Reynard family. During a dinner party, Mrs Reynard's diamond lavalier is snatched. Who could have done it, and why? Is it because it's cursed, or are more mundane forces to blame? The book is very well written and stands up admirably to re-reads, even when the mystery is revealed. There's lots of humor and cute references (including Pierre Lapin and his 3 sisters) and the art is very charming. I admit I'm a sucker for Jane Yolen, but even without her famous name this book would stand VERY well on its own.

[Cameron Devaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming concept of mystery novels such as those written by Agatha Christe. This is a classical mystery set in the olden times. In this story though, the butler most certainly did not do it as it is the butler who solves the mystery. The characters in this story are all English animals dressed in typical clothing of that era. The illustrator Jane Dyer did a wonderfully detailed and colorful job in this story. Each of the animals more or less portrays an individual who perfectly matches. I think the use of a pig fits perfectly for this story. Mr. Piggins is one of the finest and most distinguished pigs in a story. Some of the fun in the book is looking at all the details in the drawings of the house.

[Phally Pech · Rating 4 out of 5]

Piggins tells the story of Butler who possess the talent to be the perfect butler. Piggins work at an elegant household and is amazing at what he does. In a rich household, crime and theft are prone to happen, and it is up to Piggins to solve the crime. Piggins pays great attention to detail and knows everything that goes on in his household.

I really enjoyed following the mystery of what happen in this elegant setting. The story is very delightful and the illustration is so cute and phenomenal. The characters in Piggins are all animals, rich and elegant animals, and they use the animals trait to describe the animals abilities. This is a great book for kids, because it helps them think out of the box to try to figure out who committed the crime.