Little Pig Figwort Can't Get to Sleep

by Henrietta Branford

The other little pigs snuggled and snoozed, but little Pig Figwort could not get to sleep! "What I need is an adventure," Pig Figwort decides, and he's off for a dive in his submarine. But no one on the ocean floor wants to have fun; the mermaids and starfish are sleepy. So are the polar bears and seals at the North Pole. The moon pigs in outer space, however, are ready to play with Figwort until he just can't play anymore and goes home. "That was so much fun that I don't think I'll ever go to sleep again," says Figwort, as he snuggles up with all the other little pigs and falls fast asleep. Dedicated "to all sleepless piglets around the world," this book is a wonderful bedtime read-aloud.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 18, 2002

About the author

Henrietta Branford was a British novelist for young people.
She was born in India in 1946, but was raised in the New Forest in Hampshire, England. During her short career she won the Smarties Prize in 1994 for Dimanche Diller (Harper Collins) and the Guardian Fiction Prize in 1998 for Fire, Bed and Bone (Walker Books); she was twice shortlisted for the Guardian Fiction Prize, in 1994 and 1997. Her progress and development as a writer was watched with interest by publishers, critics and fellow writers alike.

Reviews

[Sarah Cho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pig Figwort is the main character who is struggling to go to sleep. Pig Figwort's imagination runs wild as mermaids, oceans, and water flood her brain. She then struggles and struggles more as the imagination takes over. Eventually, Pig Figtwort gets tired out and goes to sleep after so many adventures.

This book would be good for younger Elm students. I know a lot of students have a hard time sleeping at night. This is something that a lot of student could relate to and could help with a good discussion about what we can do to help ourselves get to bed easier.

[Caroline Edinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to inspire using your imagination!

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather surprising book about a little pig who tries to have a bunch of adventures because he just can't get to sleep. Unfortunately, all the places he goes has inhabitants who can get to sleep and don't want to play with him, except when he goes to the moon! Apparently those moon pigs are quite the partiers.

Illustrations are quirky and fun.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having my own little Pig Figwort who will not go to sleep, this book was highly enjoyable as he tries and tries to go to sleep. The adventures he takes in his imagination are exciting and probably not too far off from what little ones envision as they are struggling to relax and unwind.

[Taylor Troncin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was read for Wesley’s summer reading club. Wesley is my (soon to be five year old) son. This review is what we used for his reading club.
***

This was a pretty cute story about the pig. Wesley said he didn't like it, but then wanted it to be read again.

[kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the imagination and youthfulness of it all.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

It helped me sleep!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Pig Gracewort loves this one! The illustrations are fun—have lots going on in each spread.

[Dee-Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was cute and I liked the pictures of the pig trying to get to sleep, however it did not really grab my son's attention, but did other members of his special needs class.

[Alice]

bedtime

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Little Pig Figwort can't sleep so he goes on adventures--under the ocean, to the North Pole, into space and more.