Book Review: Pig the Slob

New York Times best selling author Aaron Blabey returns with the eighth edition of his popular Pig the Pug series!

In Pig the Slob, we are reintroduced to Pig, the greedy little Pug who is also a huge couch potato.  No matter what's going on around him, Pig spends all day lounging around, surrounded by unhealthy snacks and screens.  It is truly a shameful display.

Pig's lifestyle had become so poor that his friend Trevor decided to spring into action to help Pig change his ways.  Although Trevor tries encouraging him to walk or go jogging, Pig's laziness keeps him stuck on the sofa.  That is until the floorboards under him can take no more of Pig's snacking and explode!  As with the other editions of Pig the Pug, Pig has to learn a tough lesson to get him back on track.

This fun, rhyming story is complete with Blabey's trademark comedy, which kids and parents will both enjoy.  The illustrations are incredibly detailed and the story teaches kids an important lesson.  Pig the Slob is recommended for children four to eight years of age.

Health and Exercise

The main theme of Pig the Slob is the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and exercise.

The story's display of Pig's bad habits, through rhyming text and illustrations, is evident from the first page of the book.  Blabey does an excellent job of using humorous detail to describe Pig's laziness. This helps set the stage for his other character, Trevor, to enter as the likeable champion of exercise.  Trevor's attempts to get Pig to get up off the couch are rewarded in the end, as Pig ultimately changes his ways after learning the hard way why being healthy is important.

Although the book has clear intention of being comical, some may not like the story's conclusion where Pig falls through the floorboards.  The suggestion here is that his weight leads to the the floor's collapse, which is a bi-product of all of the unhealthy snacking we see in the first half of the book.  While the story doesn't address weight as a subject directly, it does attempt to promote an active, healthy lifestyle as a dominant subject throughout.  This is an important message for younger audiences, however, it may not be delivered in a manner that is acceptable for some.

Pig the Slob is the eighth book in Aaron Blabey's popular series.  Each of his books feature important messages and use a very humorous tone to keep engagement level high with preschool and elementary children.  But his use of comedy is not only entertaining for kids but will be appreciated by parents as well.  Throughout the book's illustrations, there are lots of fun pop culture references which are sure get a laugh.

We recommend any of the other books in the Pig the Pug series.  Below is a list of the other seven books in the hilarious series!

Pig the Pug
Pig the Winner
Pig the Elf
Pig the Star
Pig the Fibber
Pig the Stinker
Pig the Tourist