Many years ago I lived in Arizona.  I love the desert and really enjoyed all that it has to offer.  One of the animals I remember my in-laws talking about was the Javelina (pronounced Hah vuh Leena) and while I don’t remember ever seeing one I do remember hearing their loud grunts.

I was delighted when I found Don’t Call Me Pig! on my daughter’s daycare bookshelf. 

The Story
 
This is a very educational and informational story about the Javelina that is told with a rhyming text.

First we are introduced to the Javelina and how his name is pronounced as well as where this odd looking animal lives.  The story goes on to talk about what this animal likes to eat, how it survives the hot Sonoran Desert.

The story talks about its living habits with its herd, its fur, eyes and how bad its eyesight is.

My skinny legs have just three toes
It’s my head that grows quite big
But if you want to keep me happy
Don’t ever call me pig!
 
My scent is strong and stinky
Sniff…you might smell me near
Look close, you may never see me
Only grunting sounds you’ll hear.
 
The Illustrations

The cartoon like illustrations were rendered in watercolor and with pen and ink.  Mostly browns, yellows and some greens are used.

Some pages are full-page illustrations while others have small vignettes placed on a white background.

The medium, small text is placed where it is easily visible and depending on the background is done in either black or white.

Our Feelings
 
While I was reading this book to my daughter’s daycare children they were all fascinated that the Javelina looked so much like a pig and yet is not a pig. 

This book is very educational, I learned as much as the kids did, and very entertaining at the same time.  It is written and illustrated in such a way that even the 3 year olds paid close attention.
 
While the Javelina’s are drawn close to their natural look, the ones in this book are also doing more human things like walking upright, spraying perfume and measuring a smaller Javelina against a cactus.

While the text is a little small for holding up and reading this book, I really like that the publisher was careful to use either black or white text so that it is easier to see.

There is two page spread at the end of the book that explains a lot about this animal, including the fact that while it is called a Javelina, due to its sharp javelin type teeth, it’s also called a Collared Peccary because of the grayish white fur around its neck.

I would very highly recommend this book, not only for its fun and interesting rhyming story but for its great way of educating its listener about the Javelina.
 
 
Nuts & Bolts
 
Don’t Call Me Pig! Won a Judy Goddard Award for its author Conrad J. Storad and was illustrated by Beth Neely and Don Rantz.

RGU Group published this 32 page paperback book in 2006 with a jacket price of $6.95.

ISBN:  1891795015



Thanks Christal for adding this book to the database for me. 

Recommended: Yes