About the Book:
Title: Pug & Pig and Friends
Author: Sue Lowell Gallion
Illustrator: Joyce Wan
Pub. Date: August 17, 2021
Beagles and Books is excited to share a review and giveaway for Pug & Pig and Friends published by Beach Lane Books/Simon and Schuster. Special thanks to the publisher and Barbara Fisch of Blue Slip Media for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review:
Pug and Pig first meet in Pug and Pig. After a rocky start, the two become friends. In Pug & Pig Treat or Treat, Pig is excited to dress up and go trick or treating. While Pug feels differently. he remains a loyal friend. In the third book in the series, new friends Squirrel, Robin, and Cat are introduced. Cat does not partake in exploring or running around the yard. She prefers watching her friends. Wan’s illustrations are perfect for emerging readers. The artwork is simple and keeps the readers attention on the characters’ actions and feelings. I love this artwork with all the animals’ butts in the air and Cat’s smirk!
The dashed lines that loop and swirl show the happy energy of Pug, Pig, Squirrel, and Robin. Cat is licking her paws and licking her paws. Is she up to something?
Once readers turn to the next page, they learn excatly what Cat is up to-surprising Pug when he is sleeping. Of course, Pug, along with Squirrel and Robin, does not appreciate Cat’s antics. When a thunderstorm rolls in, all the animals seek refuge in their homes and frightened Cat climbs up the tree. Even after the storm ends, Cat remains in the tree afraid to climb down. Recalling Cat’s favorite activity, Pug lays down for a nap. Will Cat pounce on Pug or will Pug pounce on Cat? No matter what, the friends have a good giggle which will encourage readers to join them in the laughter!
Friendship is always at the core in the books in the Pug and Pig series. I appreciate how Gallion reminds kids that you don’t always have to agree or like the same things to be friends. This idea is important to reinforce especially with young children. As a reading specialist, I love Gallion’s text because it support children just learning to read with repetition, high frequency words, and short sentences. Questions are also posed which gives children the opportunity to actively interact with the text. They can answer questions based on the illustrations as well as make and then confirm predictions. With the start of the school year fast approaching, I look forward to sharing Pug & Pig and Friends along with the rest of the series with my primary students and teachers.
About the Author:
As the daughter of a printer, Sue Lowell Gallion has a life-long love of type, paper, and the aroma of ink. She is the author of the Pug & Pig series and the picture book All Except Axle as well as a nonfiction board book, Our World: A First Book of Geography, and three books in the Tip and Tucker early reader series. Sue lives in Leawood, Kansas, with a black lab mix who provides her with daily inspiration. To learn more and download free activities for all of her books, Visit her at suegallion.com,Twitter @SueLGallion and Instagram @suelowellgallion
About the Illustrator:
Joyce Wan is the author and illustrator of several books for children, including Pug Meets Pig, Pug & Pig Trick-or Treat, Sleepyheads,You Are My Cupcake, We Belong Together, and The Whale in My Swimming Pool. Joyce lives with her husband and daughter in New Jersey. Visit her at wanart.com, Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram: @joycewanbooks
Beagles & Books 
This book looks and sounds adorable–congrats, Sue and Joyce! I can’t wait to see what Cat is up to…and neither can my rescued lab mixes:-)
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I love the beautiful illustrations, with their lovely colors and cute characters!
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Pig and Pug are adorable! I have the first book and absolutely love the characters and illustrations.
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