Title:  Old Pig

Author:  Margaret Wild

Illustrator:  Ron Brooks

Publisher:   Allen & Unwin (February 23, 2010)

ISBN:  978-1741757064

Audience:  Ages 4 – 8

Summary:  Old Pig is a book on how to help cope with a loss of a loved one.  In the story there are two pigs, Old Pig the grandmother and Granddaughter.  The Granddaughter knows that Old Pig will soon be gone, but her memory will live on.  This story will help readers see the meaning of living, loving, giving, and receiving in the midst of a loss of a loved one.

Central Literary Elements at work in the story: The plot of the story is about a granddaughter preparing herself for the loss of her grandmother.  This softly illustrated picture book also celebrates life as well.  Each day Old Pig and Granddaughter enjoyed the beauties of life and the world around them.  The story is told by a narrator describing how Old Pig helped the granddaughter cope with dying.  The author uses our senses of looking, listening, smelling, and tasting in the process of sharing each wonder of nature with Granddaughter.  The final illustration of Granddaughter feasting on nature by herself brings chills to the skin and tears to the eyes of young and old alike. Pencil sketches with detail provided by soft pastel water colors successfully extend the unspoken portions of the story.  In the end, as Granddaughter prepared for the death of Old Pig, she now has a different perspective on life.

Perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/abilities:  This story was told from the perspective of a grandmother and granddaughter.  Although the story was told from this perspective I do not see any conflicts of any reader being able to learn from the story.

Theological Conversation Partners:  Ecclesiastes 3:1-4, Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 5:4

Faith Talk Questions:

1. Do we as individual take life for granted?  Why or why not?
2. Why is it when tragedies happen we seem to get closer to Christ?
3. Why should we live each day like it is our last?
4. Does it become difficult to serve God when dealing with a loss? What emotions are exhibited?
5. How do you trust and believe through all things that Christ loves you will be with you through trails?

Old Pig by Storypath is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.