Pongo and Stink is the story of an aspirational pig who longs for more than the slops in the pigsty. Pongo is tired of watching the life of luxury of the farm’s dog, Rollo, who is hand-fed scones and roast dinners, and enjoys belly rubs and ear scratches by the fire.
Then Pongo has the brilliant, and somewhat audacious, idea of impersonating dogs to acquire the lifestyle she hopes to become accustomed to.
Dragging the reluctant Stink along for ride, the two pigs dress up in dog suits and enjoy the adoration and attention that comes with being canine. Pretending to be dogs opens up a world of luxury to Pongo and Stink, but also the proverbial can of worms. Can pigs really behave like dogs? Rounding up sheep? Effortlessly leaping onto the back of a ute? Lifting their legs and sniffing other dog’s butts? These are just some of the behaviours our pigs will need to pull off to keep the wool firmly over the farmer’s eyes.
This clever story has it all – friendship, adventure, chaos and humour, with a few fart jokes thrown in. There’s even a heartfelt message about self-belief and acceptance that never gets in the way of the story.
But you know you’ve picked a winner when your child asks, ‘Can we read four chapters tonight, mum?’
I recommended this book as a holiday read-aloud for primary-aged kids, but don’t be surprised if you find older kids or even adults sneakily listening in.
