OLIVIA... AND THE MISSING TOY
By Ian Falconer
Simon & Schuster Children's Books/ Paperback/
48 pages/$17.10 (with GST)/ Borders and
Books Kinokuniya

Olivia is possibly the storybook world's most petulant piglet.

In this episode of Falconer's well-loved series, the feisty protagonist terrorises her family and tears through the house when her favourite toy goes missing, and even glowers at the family dog when she finds out it was the culprit.

As Olivia's mind switches from one distraction to another, picking up new interests as quickly as she abandons others, Falconer remains consistent in dishing out deadpan humour and visual punchlines with his charcoal portraits.

You never quite know where the story will careen towards at the flip of each page, but however deserving of a spanking the spunky heroine may be, you'll find she is also adorable and precocious.

ALL PIGS ARE BEAUTIFUL
By Dick King-Smith, Anita Jeram
Walker Books/ Paperback/
32 pages/ $22.42
(with GST)/Borders and Books Kinokuniya

Pigs are placed on a pedestal here: Over 150 incarnations of the animal - from Gloucester Old Spots to Large Whites to British Lops - are lovingly drawn and crammed into just 32 pages of descriptive prose that balances substance with readability.

Every other page includes an impassive info-nugget, such as the anatomical tidbit 'Pigs have cloven hoofs. They walk on their third and fourth toes', or the simpler ones to boost your child's vocabulary: 'Young female pigs are called gilts'.

King-Smith really knows what he's talking about. After all, he was a farmer for 20 years before turning to writing.

So when he tells you that most pigs aren't fussy and shares with the reader how pigs sometimes have a horrible bite, the weight of experience lies behind the information.

If you like this, pick up the companion novel The Sheep-pig or rent the Babe film adaptations, all of which were inspired by the same farmer-author's enduring love for his porcine friends.

OINK, OINK BENNY
By Barbro Lindgren,
Olof Landstrom
R&S Books/ Hardcover/
28 pages/$27.01 (with GST)/
Books Kinokuniya

'Stay away from the mudhole,' says Benny's mama.

'Oink, oink,' says Benny.

Then Benny and his little brother head straight for the mudhole.

From the land of meatballs and the absurd children's book character Pippi Longstocking comes Swedish children's authors Lindgren and Landstrom's kiddy masterpiece.

Until they came along, cartoon pigs never looked so stupid. Their porky creations are genius in pandering to piggy stereotypes and a sheer riot, whether they are flailing in the mudpool or scampering along in the rain, going wee wee wee all the way home.

This unabashedly simple story is fast-paced and laugh-out-loud funny, and by not taking itself too seriously, offers kids a giggle-a-minute read.

This article was first published in The Sunday Times on May 11, 2008.