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Cover of Piggybook

Piggybook

Anthony Browne

32 pages

A humorous, surreal cautionary tale about what happens when a family takes their mother's hard work for granted.

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What it feels like

Reading this book feels like stepping into a wry, modern fable where domestic frustrations take on a delightfully surreal life of their own. The narrative moves at a brisk, engaging pace, quickly establishing a relatable family dynamic before plunging into a peculiar blend of fantasy and reality. The mood is playful yet pointed, offering a humorous but deeply satisfying exploration of orderliness, chaos, and the invisible labor of mothers. Written with a cautionary but triumphant tone, the story builds to a rewarding reckoning that feels both magical and grounded. It is perfect for young readers and families who enjoy a clever, transformative tale that playfully challenges the status quo of household responsibilities.

Mood
  • peculiar
  • satisfying
  • playful
  • surreal
Tone
  • humorous
  • satirical
  • wry
  • cautionary
Pace
brisk
Themes
domestic labor imbalance · family dynamics · taking mothers for granted · orderliness and chaos
The writing
Simple, humorous, and cautionary, blending everyday domestic reality with peculiar fantasy.
The arc
Moves from a frustrating depiction of domestic imbalance to a surreal, humorous, and deeply satisfying reckoning.
Who it's for
Young readers and families looking for a funny, satisfying fable about household responsibilities and appreciating mothers.
Content notes
  • domestic inequality

About the book

What a nice life the Piggott family has! Little Simon and Patrick Piggott go to a very important school. Mr. Piggott works at a very important job. And Mrs. Piggott does everything else. She washes for them, irons for them, cleans for them, and is always home from work to cook for them at the end of their busy days. But one evening Mrs. Piggott is nowhere to be found. The only trace is a mysterious note left on the mantlepiece that says, "You are pigs." Now what will the Piggotts do? Already everything and everyone has started to change in the most peculiar way. Young and old alike will rejoice when the Piggotts get their just desserts in this modern cautionary tale. Once again, award-winning author/artist Anthony Browne has fused fantasy and reality to create a humorous, deeply satisfying book that may just transform the entire family. - Back cover.

Description from Open Library.

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