One boy and his toy are about to change everything…
Jack loves his childhood toy, Dur Pig. DP has always been there for him, through good and bad. Until one Christmas Eve, something terrible happens – DP is lost. But Christmas Eve is a night for miracles and lost causes, a night when all things can come to life… even toys.
And Jack’s newest toy – the Christmas Pig (DP’s annoying replacement) – has a daring plan: together they’ll embark on a magical journey to seek something lost, and to save the best friend Jack has ever known…
It might be December, but The Christmas Pig is easily one of my favourite reads of the year. It’s a heartwarming, page-turning adventure about one child’s love for his most treasured things and how far he will go to find them. It’s a tale for the whole family to fall in love with, from J.K. Rowling, one of the world’s greatest storytellers.
From Jack and the Christmas Pig’s blossoming friendship to the characters of Poem and Pretense (my personal favourites), there’s so much to love about this novel. On the surface, this story is about Jack’s search for DP, the friendships he makes and the lessons he learns. But on a deeper level, it tackles very real issues of divorce, bullying and learning to accept change through the not-so-naïve eyes of Jack.
The Christmas Pig looks at the concept of separation: more broadly with Jack’s parents, and more personally when it comes to DP. DP is a symbol of consistency in Jack’s life – when he becomes lost, so does Jack. But they both find their way. It’s a story about accepting change and learning to move on – for the better. Ultimately, the past will always hold its sentimentality and nostalgia. While change can be scary, uncomfortable and unwanted, when you learn to embrace it, you can find peace in the unknown: ‘losing is a part of living, but some us live even though we’re lost. That’s what love does.’
The novel features nine black and white spreads, as well as decorative inside art from renowned illustrator Jim Field. The illustrations help capture the journey Jack and the Christmas Pig are on, from the comfort of Jack’s home to the vividly stunning cities in Land of the Lost. This story makes you appreciate what you have, whether that’s your beloved childhood toy or your school lunchbox; everything has value. I’ll be holding onto all of my things extra tight from here on out.
Presented in a gorgeously gifty hardback with full-colour jacket, The Christmas Pig is perfect for young readers aged 9+. It encapsulates the magic of Christmas time, emphasising the importance of being grateful for the things we have and the people we’re surrounded by.
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