The Wonderful Pigs of Jillian Jiggs

Jillian Jiggs

by Phoebe Gilman

Jillian Jiggs has finally cleaned up her room! And after discovering that a jar of buttons she found during the cleanup look just like pigs' noses, Jillian Jiggs embarks on an extravagant pig-making enterprise. She makes pirate pigs, princess pigs, striped pigs and plaid pigs, and plans to sell them for ten cents each. But can Jillian part with her pigs so full of personality?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Canada, Poetry, Teaching, Pre K

36 pages, Paperback

First published June 24, 1989

About the author

What can I tell you about myself? I like to make up stories and draw pictures. I like to go ice skating, to the movies and I love reading books.

I was born and grew up in the Bronx, New York. My Mother loved to read so it was only natural that my brothers and I got our own library cards as soon as we were able to print our names. My favorite books were fairy tales. When the pictures didn't match the images that the words had painted in my head, I would cover them up with my hands. I still do that.

I prefer the words to the pictures, which is a little odd since I think of myself as an artist rather than a writer. All of my formal training has been in art. I went to The High School of Art and Design. From there, it was a short skip and a jump over to The Art Student's League, after a brief detour to Hunter College. I spent fifteen years at the Ontario College of Art, teaching others how to draw and paint. It still surprises me to be called a writer.

As soon as I was able, I started to travel. I like meeting new faces and going to new places. One of the nice things about being an artist is that it is a very portable profession. I have lived for extended periods of time in both Europe and Israel.

Shortly after coming to Canada in 1972, I met and married Brian Bender. We have three children, Ingrid, Jason and Melissa, two granddaughters, Ariana and Emily and a cat, Minoo.

It was because of my daughter, Ingrid, that I became an author. When her balloon burst on a tree branch, I wished the tree would magically sprout balloons. It didn't...what sprouted was an idea in my head. Why not write a story about a tree that blossoms balloons? And that's how I came to write my first book, The Balloon Tree.

It is not how I came to be published. That took fifteen years and umpty zillion rejection slips to accomplish.

My advice to any aspiring author is:
•Get a balloon and let it go.
•Read. Read. READ!
•Write. Write. WRITE! (To do anything well takes practice.)
•Don't give up. Keep on trying.
•Don't be afraid of criticism. Learn from it.

From the author's website

Reviews

[Chase Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want a Martian pig

[Mr H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great rhythm when reading! Such a fun book!

[Elfdart · Rating 5 out of 5]

like it’s predecessor, this book is a great children’s book. jillian is finished tidying her room and has now decided that she will make pigs! she makes a lot of pigs and then decides to sell them with her friends, but when people start buying her pigs she discovers that she’s too emotionally attached to her pigs to sell them. so instead she gives lessons on how to make pigs. at the end of the book there is a little pattern that teaches you how to make a stuffed pig.
like the first book it rhymes nicely and like the first book, the illustrations are very expressive and energetic. great series

[Dianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book from the library because my son likes pigs even though the cover didn't appeal to me. I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't that bad at all: in fact, it was fairly creative, and we enjoyed it. There are instructions in the back for making your own pig, too.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute illustrations!

Text is almost a chant - very easy to read. A bit silly, so kids will find it funny.

And even illustrations in the back on how to make your own stuffed pig!

[Tasha Leflar · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a Robert Munsch fan this is a book for you and your children. Everyone should read this once!

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvellous. A catchy, rhyming story that the kids really get into. The directions at the back of the book to make a toy pig kept the kids busy all afternoon. Great book!!

[Harold Coutts · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is easily the best book of all time

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jillian is a very creative character who makes pigs! She decides to make a bunch of pigs and sell them to earn money. However, when people start to come to buy the pigs Jillian gets very sad and is too attached. Don't fret, though! Jillian decides to charge for lessons on how to make pigs instead of selling her own pigs. At the end of the book, there is a little pattern that teaches you how to make your own pig!
I really like this book. It rhymes, and every time I read it it's almost like I am singing. This is another book I used to read all the time with I was a little girl. I even remember trying to make my own pigs from the pattern provided, but they never came out right. This book does promote a lot of happiness to the reader and also provides a message- a bad situation can be turned around with new ideas.

[Jaimie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember really loving the Jillian Jiggs books (mostly because of her whimsically hilarious pig characters), but re-reading these as an adult doesn’t hold quite the same charm. The premise is still a good one for a story, with the young Jillian channelling her messy room and hoarding nature into the creation of many, many wonderful pig characters, but somehow the story is a lot flatter than I remember. Our Jillian character is wonderfully creative, and I absolutely love all of the many pigs she creates, but I feel like I remember a lot more pigs and a lot more backstory. Maybe we just filled in the blanks better as children than we do as adults.

[Olivia S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book, and only partly because I read it a lot as a kid. It really stands up to re-reading, with the great rhyming lines, cute story, and adorable illustrations. The only downside is that the pigs you make in real life don't turn out nearly as cute as the book, and I remember finding it really disappointing. The crafting requirements are a bit difficult for kids, as there's sewing involved, but would probably work with 9+, if you wanted to get into that disappointing craft. Great book, nonetheless. 4+

[Allison Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jillian Jiggs is a little girl who is both messy but very imaginative and creative. Her mother demands that Jillian clean her room because it looks like it's been lived in by pigs. This gave Jillian the brilliant idea to turn her socks and craft supplies into dozens and dozens of wonderful little pigs, each pig is given a name and personality. I loved this story as a child and I have kept this book and now read it to my little ones. I love the story, the illustrations, and the rhyming.

[Shawn Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lot's of fun. The rhyming scheme scans beautifully, and it's a pleasure for the tongue to read out loud. Read this book a lot with my daughter between the ages of 2-4. Before long I would leave space for her to finish each rhyme as we read. We had a lot of fun. The story is cute, plus it provides inspiration for a craft.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Jillian Jiggs so much as a child! can't wait to introduce my kids when I have a family to the classics I read as a young girl :)

[Kaila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just saw the cover and had a recovered memory from my childhood of my sister, mom, and I making dozens of pigs. This was one of my favorite books and I had forgotten all about it!

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet with a sewing pattern to make your own pigs!

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent rhyming. Loved reading this book with my kids.

[KIMBERLY · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sequel to Jillian Jiggs. I used to make pantyhose pigs with my first grade class when I was teaching. So much fun.

[Nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

It even has instructions on how to make your own pigs!!!!

[Four Puddles In The Rain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved to read these when I was little! (I still love to do it now, too) :)

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute story.

[lnich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just reread this childhood favourite to see if I want to pass it on to my niblings, and imo it holds up! Very cute, and I do love a children's book with an activity in the back.

[Jillian Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful return to a beloved book from my childhood that still gives all the warm happy feelings it gave me as a child!

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We found this copy and a box full of my old childhood books - many are far too young, but Maddie enjoys Jillian Jigs and now wants to try making the pigs.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A childhood favourite of mine...especially because there was pig named Miranda! I remember Ms. Gilman came to my school to sign books but didn't get a chance to see everyone who waited in line for her, including me. I forged my own signature in my copy of the book hoping to fool everyone. Looking at it now, it makes me laugh at the childish purple marker smeared with a stick figure pig and the misspelling of the author's name on the inside cover.
I hope the future generations of children are also enjoying this book because it would be a tragedy for this book to be forgotten!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. On the one hand I still enjoy the cute rhymes and female protagonist, Jillian Jiggs. On the other hand, I still think (carried over from the first book) that Jillian's mother really should get some therapy. That her daughter feels responsible for 'making her mother's worries go away' suggests some really unhealthy parenting.

[Jillian DeVere Springsteen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember my mom reading this book to me as a little girl. Rarely do you see a character or a book named after you. (Jillian - but you hear the name Jill a lot). When I was younger, I remember singing the song in this book. It was a good book to see again after all these years. I hope to read it to my niece one day!

Would recommend for any toddler. Much love for this book.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently sat down and made about 20 of Jillian Jigg's pigs! This was an amazingly hilarious and one of my favorite childhood books! And I LOVE that it has instructions at the back!

Welcome to the world of Jillian Jiggs- the creator of wonderful, magical, hilariously creative PIGS!

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

After cleaning up her room, Jillian Jigs decided to make pigs to sell. She made so many that her friends helped set them up for sale, but Jillian realized she loved all her little pigs. Cute story with fun illustrations, and step-by-step instructions included for making your own pig.

[Maggee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I made a stuffed princess pig with my mom before, do you know how? Because this book shows you how at the end. It was really cool & fun.