A Piglet Called Truffle

Jasmine Green #1

by Helen Peters, Ellie Snowdon (Illustrator)

The first in a fantastic series of animal stories for younger readers by Waterstones Children's Book Prize-shortlisted author Helen Peters, with beautiful black-and-white illustrations by Ellie Snowdon.

Jasmine's dad is a farmer, and her mum is a large-animal vet, so Jasmine spends a lot of time caring for animals and keeping them out of trouble. Unfortunately, this often means she gets into hot water herself...

When Jasmine sees a tiny, unloved piglet left to fend for itself, she knows it will die without her help. So she smuggles it home to her farm to nurse it back to health. But she can't keep Truffle forever, and then, one stormy night, disaster strikes...

Genres: Middle Grade, Animals, Childrens, Chapter Books, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Juvenile

144 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2016

About the author

Helen Peters is the author of The Secret Hen House Theatre. She grew up on an old-fashioned farm in Sussex, surrounded by family, animals and mud. She spent most of her childhood reading stories and putting on plays in a tumbledown shed that she and her friends turned into a theatre. After university, she realised that she needed to find a job where someone would pay her to read stories and put on plays (though maybe not in a tumbledown shed) and so she became an English and Drama teacher. Several years later, finding herself as a stay-at-home mother of two, she decided to have a go at writing the sort of book she’d so enjoyed as a child. Helen lives with her husband and children in London, and she can still hardly believe that she now gets to call herself a writer.

Reviews

[teach_book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Przepiękna i wzruszająca historia!

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Piglet Called Truffle is the first book in the Jasmine Green Rescue series by Helen Peters.
In this book, Jasmine rescues a tiny baby piglet who's close to deaths door. Jasmine nurses the piglet back to good health and calls her Truffle. Jasmine wants to keep Truffle but her dad's farm is not one with pigs and she has her work cut out to convince him to let her keep the piglet.
Jasmine's best friend Tom is going away for Christmas and asks Jasmine to look after his pet Guinea Pigs, then tragedy strikes. Will Jasmine be able to save the Guinea Pigs and get to keep Truffle?
These books are so adorably illustrated and told and myself and my daughter love sharing them together.
If your looking for a new book series for your child, I highly recommend this one! They teach children how much work pets are, what care animals need, information about pets and Jasmine is a fantastic role model too!

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jasmine Green's mother is a veterinarian and her father is a farmer, so she is surrounded by animals who at any given time may be ill, in danger, injured, giving birth, or something else. She loves animals and always does her part helping her parents. When she goes with her mother to a pig farm for a call, she checks out the newest litter of pigs. When she spies a small runt, she realized it is in trouble. Searching out the farmer, she points out that the little piglet might not survive, his response is that is the way of nature. Jasmine can not let it die, so she sneaks it away from the farm and into her bedroom determined to save the little piglet that she names Truffle. As Truffle grows and survives, the farmer allows Jasmine to keep him and he becomes part of the family. He learns some tricks and helps Jasmine to rescue some guinea pigs. This is a cute chapter book for older primary readers. It could also be read aloud to younger children. It is a bit longer so would need to be read over a few sittings. A cute story for those who love animals as well as to be read while studying care of animals, animal rescues, veterinarians or farms. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great animal lovers book for kids!

Jasmine Green Rescues:A Pig Called Truffle by Helen Peters is the perfect pick for kids that love animals. The main character is a girl that problem solves situations, loves animals, and shows a caring attitude to animals and people. Great book with terrific artwork sprinkled in along the way!

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first two titles in the Jasmine Green Rescues series, written by UK author Helen Peters and provided to me by the publisher, have been a big hit with my science-minded six-year-old. Jasmine's mother is a veterinarian and her father is a farmer, so she is surrounded by animals who at any given time may be ill, in danger, injured, giving birth, or compromised in some other way. Fueled by her own love for these vulnerable animals, Jasmine does things like rescue a piglet runt (A Piglet Called Truffle) and take over egg incubation for a deceased mother duck (A Duckling Called Button). Like the stories of James Herriot, these books are the perfect blend of anecdotes about farm life, healthy emotional attachments to animals, and a matter-of-fact understanding of the circle of life. I really hope Candlewick will bring this entire series to the US, as my daughter and I have not yet had enough of Jasmine Green!

[recenzjebook Nikosia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Urocze! Idealna książka na gorszy czas 💓
Czytałam ją drugi raz ❤

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cute! This is about a girl named Jasmine. Her mom is a vet and her dad is a farmer. She goes with her mom to a neighbor farm to take care of brand new pigs and Jasmine finds the runt of the litter, starving and near death. The farmer plans to let it die because it needs so much care so Jasmine steals it and takes it home to nurse it back to health. She keeps it a secret for awhile and just does what she's seen her mom do and she gets it healthy! This piglet starts to act like a puppy and it was so dang sweet. We learned that pigs have exceptional scent which comes in really handy in the story when Truffle helps find some missing guinea pigs. The very end is Christmas and all she wants for Christmas is to get to keep Truffle. Her dad keeps saying no but then he lets her and thats her gift!

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this whilst clearing up and I know it’s a children’s book but anything to get me reading again. Lovely little story with great illustrations

[J.L. Slipak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jasmine’s dad is a farmer, and her mum is a large-animal vet, so Jasmine spends a lot of time caring for animals and keeping them out of trouble. Unfortunately, this often means she gets into hot water herself…

In the first in the series, A Piglet Called Truffle, Jasmine rescues a tiny little piglet from certain death. But Jasmine’s parents don’t believe in farm animals being pets and insist that Truffle must be sold as soon as she’s big enough. Jasmine is desperate to give Truffle a home for life. Perhaps a heroic rescue on a freezing, stormy night will show that Truffle is truly part of the family?

Brilliant story-telling that will make you laugh and cry, this is Dick King-Smith for a new generation.

Out March 2020

160 Pages

MY THOUGHTS:

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

I love everything about this series. Coming from farm folks, and Naturalists (bit of a contradiction), I learned from an early age to appreciate animals and their value to us and this planet.

This cute chapter book can also be for early readers, easy reading and special needs kids. It teaches about animal rescues, farming, caring for animals and loving animals. Full of antics and fun, humor and funny situations abounds in the story to engage and captivate readers. Compassion and empathy are valued by the character and shown continuously in the story highlighting kindness and understanding.

The pig called Truffle, (ironic since pigs are used to find truffles–mushrooms), is full of spit and vinegar and is very intelligent, learning tricks and helping find guinea pigs with the main character. Farm life is elaborated on, showing hard work and care for land and animals.

This is a great read for children and would make a great school library book recommendation. Life in country settings should be highlighted more for kids so that they know there’s more to life than just technology although a lot of technology is now used while farming.

[Ejayen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little hard to believe, but very fun.

[Dontreadlikethem · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you know children you know they love re-reading books and love a long series. Jasmine Green lives on a farm and compassion for animals is in her blood. This particular book in the series is all about her rescuing a piglet who is too small to survive. Jasmine Green is not only kind to animals she is also an understanding friend. The cast of characters in her life include her easily mislead brother, his trouble making best friend, her hardworking farm vet mother, farmer father, her avid reader older sister, and last but not least her best friend Tom. The illustrations don't have color but the sketch style of drawing doesn't need it. I can't wait to see where her adventures lead her because she is a great character for kids to look up to. Children ages 7 and up can try out this easy to read chapter book.

[Leila B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I desperately want to buy this book for my 18 yo daughter. It's a kids book, but she'd love it.

But my kids has been asking for a pig for Christmas and her birthday, at the top of her list, since she was a tiny tot.

So maybe not.

But how could I not have her read a book that starts out like this (Any errors mine):

Jasmine was lying on her bed with her cats, reading her favorite magazine, Practical Pigs.

Such a sweet fun little book. I loved the family dynamics, I loved the mom-vet, I loved that Jasmine is a little girl of color (her mom is Dr Singh, her grandmother is nani), I loved the piglet, Truffle, I loved the beautiful illustrations, and I loved that it made me smile. Sweet but not cloying. Too much mud to be cloying.

[Maggi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute!

[Danielle Booey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute kids book about a girl named Jasmine and the little piglet named Truffle that she rescues. Truffle is the runt of her litter and when Jasmine's grumpy neighbor decides to leave her fate up to chance Jasmine takes it upon herself to pignap Truffle and save her.

From there adventures in training a pig and life on a farm ensue. A dastardly fox shows up, Jasmine teaches Truffle to fetch and "find it!", and a rescue venture is mounted when two guinea pigs go missing.

Lots for kids to love here including some nice illustrations.

[Barbra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of the Jasmine Green Rescues series, this first book follows Jasmine as she rescues a piglet who was just not strong enough to compete with the rest of his littermates. Her mom who is a veterinarian, helps her save his life. With just the right amount of challenge, these stories are age appropriate for young readers wanting to delve into chapters.

[Barbara Band]

Jasmine’s dad is a farmer and her mother is a vet so she spends a lot of time helping out with all sorts of animals. When she discovers a tiny piglet, the runt of the litter who will die if left to fend for itself, she smuggles it home. However, Jasmine’s parents insist that when Truffle is larger she will have to be sold. But then, one wintry night, Truffle comes to the rescue in the search for two runaway guinea pigs …
This is the first book in a series, there are two further titles on the way – A Sheepdog named Sky and A Duckling called Button – but anticipate more. A delightful tale with black and white illustrations that add to the text, this is a humorous animal adventure that will enchant Dick King Smith fans. The story is set in a realistic farm environment, mixing facts with the fiction that will enthral any reader interested in animals, and is suitable for KS2.

[Luna's Little Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a warm-cuddly-cute-happy-book. I’m not sure how else to describe it. In short, it’s a sweet and lovely story and you just enjoy from start to finish.

[Faith Elizabeth Hough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent early reader...like a modern day James Herriot for kids. Longer review to come soon!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello, Charlotte's Web flashbacks! (At least in the beginning.) I was struck by the first illustration of the piglets at the farm that Jasmine visits with her veterinarian mother, noticing immediately that it reminded me of the pictures from my beloved childhood copy of Charlotte's Web. And then, of course, Jasmine discovers this little runt of a pig. To save it from being killed, she decides to keep it and raise it on her own.

But this story is different and really sweet and subtly educational. I never knew all that would be involved in rescuing a runt pig, but now I do. And I learned it just by the way the story was told, not as a scientific lesson, which I really liked. It was a fun way to learn something new about pigs. You also get little tidbits about other animals.

And Jasmine's relationship with her new pig is so sweet, plus how she works at training Truffle and acclimating her to the farm life. Jasmine is also an enterprising young woman and will go far in achieving her dreams, I think!

I really enjoyed this chapter book, and I know that I would have devoured it and the others in the series when I was girl. I probably also would have been begging to go to the farm and/or get another pet. I hope to read more in this series.

Thank you to the publisher for fulfilling my review request via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jasmine lives on a farm and loves animals. Her mother takes her on a vet call where she finds the runt from a litter of piglets in distress. When the farmer and her mother dismiss her plea to help the piglet, she names it Truffle and secretly takes it home to nurse it through the night. Her hard work saves the pig and she is allowed to keep it so she trains it to be a “sniffer” pig. Her training work saves the day one extremely cold and snowy night when a storm knocks over the guinea pig hutch.

This book is the first in a beginning chapter book series that features Jasmine Green as she rescues various animals on the farm. It was originally published in Great Britain and brought to the North American market by Candlewick. Jasmine is determined main character with bounds of empathy and she will be embraced by children who love reading animal stories. The supporting cast of her family and friends offer humor and warmth to the story and the farm setting allows the children the freedom to just be kids. There are charming pen and ink illustrations by Ellie Snowdon to help newly proficient readers transition into reading chapter books.

I would recommend this book and series for purchase to any school or public library. This book was provided by the publisher for professional reveiew by SWON Libraries.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading A Piglet Called Truffle! The cover looked like a beginning reader, yet the story of brave resilient young Jasmine Green and her passionate love for animals, proved instead to be a more sophisticated tale. Living on a farm with a vet as her mother, Jasmine appreciates helping her mother with the animals, and has learned alot long the way. On a visit to a nearby farm where her mom helped with a calving, Jasmine sauntered off to see her favorite animals the pigs. To Jasmine's delight, the mother sow had just had a litter of piglets. As she examined them she realized their was one extra tiny piglet, hidden under the mother. Gently extricating her from underneath her, it appeared she might not survive. Her mother and the farmer agree, but Jasmine can't resist. Animal lovers will need to read to find out what happens to the runt, as well as some unexpected talents of these bright animals. If you are a guinea pig fan, there are adventures with these adorable rodents, entwined into the adventures. This is an exciting tale with lots of challenges for the enimals and Jasmine in this farm located in the English countryside. Kids will want to read more titles from this British import Jasmine Green Rescues series. A delightful read!

[Rosi Hollinbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jasmine goes with her veterinarian mother to a neighboring farm. While there, Jasmine discovers a tiny runt when she visits the sty to see the newborn piglets. The farmer isn't interested in caring for it, so Jasmine sneaks it home. She gives it medicine and food and keeps it warm, saving it. Her parents and the neighboring farmer allow her to keep it. This is her first rescue. She wants to have an animal rescue business one day with her friend Tom. She names it Truffles and actually trains it to sniff things out. That skill becomes really important when Tom's guinea pigs Jasmine is caring for are lost in a storm.

Helen Peters has written a really sweet story that will engage elementary readers and keep them turning pages. The cute illustrations by Ellie Snowdon help emerging readers transition from picture books to novels. This is the first in a series that are bound to become fast favorites for that age group. I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in this new series by Helen Peters. I do love being introduced to Jasmine Green who lives on a farm and shows such love for all the animals. The main topic in this story is how sweet and smart Truffle the Pig came to be with Jasmine, but there is so much more. There is grief over her lost pet chicken Blossom, and sympathy with their dog, Bramble, who has recently lost his companion, Bracken. Jasmine's persistence to rescue her friend Tom's guinea pigs (whom she is watching) whose hutch was blown over in a fierce snowstorm brings in some frightening scenes, but happily, all ends well, and on Christmas morning. It's a lovable start to this new series that introduces the ups and downs of farm life and in family, too.
Thanks to Walker Books US, a Division of Candlewick Press for this copy.

[Jessica Gard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely chapter book about a young girl named Jasmine who lives on a farm with her family, and lots of different animals. After visiting a fellow farmer with her mother, who happens to be a farm vet, Jasmine discovers a new born pig who has clearly been abandoned as the runt of the litter. Seeing that the animal will surely perish without intervention, Jasmine, who has now named the piglet Truffles, chooses to sneak her home and do everything she can to nurse it back to health. With adventures in between, Jasmine and Truffles form a bond that defies the normal farmer/livestock relationship.

All said, Helen Peters has written an easy and fun story that shows what dedication and friendships can accomplish.

Thank you to Netgalley and Candlewick Press for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[Eve beinguniquebeingme · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this latest adventure on Jasmine's family farm, her and Tom look after a new born runt piglet after it's farmer makes it clear what'll happen to it.



Jasmine and Tom are determined to save his little life and set about feeding her up, teaching her tricks and of course Jasmine works on getting her parents to let her keep him, Truffle for her to raise and look after especially as Christmas is days away.



But can Truffle help Jasmine when Tom's guinea pigs escape and prove how well and good trained she's become?



This was a fun book I loved that Jasmine trained Truffle to sniff out trails and walked her on a lead and of course saved her life and became her friend gaining her trust it was a great start to a promising interesting series!

[Jessica F · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this series - adorable animals and a diverse main character? Yes please!

The story definitely delivers for animal lovers, but feels lacking in authenticity. Although Jasmine's mom, Dr. Singh, is presumably Indian, this heritage plays no role in the story beyond one mention of a food dish. If it weren't for the cover illustration and the very obvious way the author calls attention to Dr. Singh's name, one would easily assume all the characters were white, because that's very much how the story reads.

I'll still be recommending the series to young animal lovers because at least it doesn't actively cause harm and perpetuate stereotypes (like Calpurnia Tate, Girl Vet), but I'm disappointed.

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

You're never too old to enjoy children's books. It's such a precious feeling to be able to care for an animal, even if it may not be a permanent situation. The main character, Jasmine, is a determined, gentle and a clever girl who truly puts her pets' needs first - a great example for young kids out there. The piglet is very sweet - I wish I could hold one in my arms. There are some fun facts about pigs that Jasmine and her family mentions which I hadn't known about. The story takes place during the fall and winter season so it's perfect to curl up with over a hot beverage and a willing pet (or a soft toy).

Bookworm Reading Challenge 2024: Farm life

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice early chapter book, perfect for kids who like animals. Sweet illustrations, but not precious. Jasmine’s mom is a veterinarian and her dad is a farmer. The layout is very much in keeping with the format of an early chapter book, but the language is rich and varied. This is for a strong reader who still likes pictures in their chapter books. It would also make a nice read-aloud for a younger child.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is darling. A sweet girl named Jasmine lives on a farm and has a soft spot for animals. She cleverly finds a way to help multiple animals and rescue them, and in this book a piglet and guinea pigs are the main focus- with cats, chickens, and more making appearances, too. There were definite parts to this that screamed Charlotte’s Web, but in the most charming ways. 2nd and 3rd graders will adore the Jasmine Green Rescues series.

[Kailyn | Wonder. Wander. Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really engaging story. Jasmine is a tender-hearted character with determination. Focuses on compassion, personal responsibility, and friendship.

Full of good vocabulary related to farming and animal care.

Concerns: Jasmine lies to her parents repeatedly in the early chapters. Steals a pig. No punishment for any of these actions.

If reading out loud, maybe change “violent baby” to “wrestling baby” or something. (A game her brother plays at school).