It was the cover illustration that got me – yes, totally guilty of judging a book by its cover.
But in this case, the illustrator happens to be acclaimed Japanese author and illustrator Tatsuya Miyanishi (宫西达也), whose books have been translated into English, Chinese, Korean and French (millions of copies sold!).
Little Piggy is a bit of a cry baby, and his friendship with a tree may just bring tears to your eyes.
I cannot show you the inside pages for copyright reasons, but suffice to say that this book is a real gem.
WHY WE LOVE IT
- The illustrations are simple, yet totally heartfelt. They tell a story entirely on their own.
- The storytelling is so simple as to be almost 轻描淡写, but it tugs at your heart strings (now that is real skill).
- This Chinese translation is not easy for my 7 yo to read independently, so I read to her while occasionally pointing out words she can read. My 10 yo can read on her own, with some new words (always good).
HOWEVER…
There is no Hanyu Pinyin and English translation, so suitable if you can read a bit of Chinese. Or get an older child to read it to you.
WHERE TO FIND?
- Borrow from public libraries
So I borrowed my copy from the National Library (okay I will return soon).
Last I checked online, there are still copies available in various libraries. Unfortunately, there seems to be no e-book available.
2. Buy online
Check out these sites to purchase:
- www.taobao.com (淘宝）
- www.dangdang.com （当当）
- www.jd.com （京东）
3. Listen online
I would say check out this option only after you have read the book. 温故知新，you know?
You can listen for free at:
- www.youshenghuiben.com
- www.ximalaya.com
Discover also the Tyrannosaurus series (12 titles) that the illustrator is better known for.
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Thanks for the video. Very helpfulClifton guest