Peppa Pig and the Treasure Hunt

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - North Yarmouth Academy, Yarmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 10, 2015

Review

This book is based on the TV series Peppa Pig, created by Neville Astley and Mark Baker, to whom I attributed the authorship of this book though an author is not actually given. If you have an audience for this type of book, it will sell itself. If you don't and you come across it and have no idea it's a show and are wondering if this book is cute on its own merit, not really. The drawings are simplistic, the concept of a treasure hunt is not new, nor does this book add much to the world of children's literature. Peppa and her brother George go to visit their grandparents, who have created a treasure hunt for them; this is a sweet idea. The dialogue is basic as is the word choice. Gender roles are pretty firmly set as George gets to wear the pirate hat and discovers a worm that he calls treasure (Peppa disagrees). There are some mild attempts at humor (the worm, and when Papa Pig tries to read the map upside down), and these moments made a few kids in story time smile. When the young pigs do find the treasure, Papa does the digging for them, and the jackpot turns out to be gold coins that they seem to eat with abandon. It's the type of story that plays well with an audience that is content to sit in front of a television and be gently entertained without thought or vigor.

Overall Book Score: fair