THE PIG AND THE DUMPLING

An enthusiastic pig gets more than he can swallow in this folksy cautionary tale.

In a small Newfoundland town, a trio of hardworking fishermen are treated to a hearty meal of stew and dumplings. A chaotic chain of events ensues when a fisherman tosses a dumpling away. It’s caught in midair by Ignatius, an opportunistic pig, but the dumpling becomes lodged in his throat. Terrified and in pain, Ignatius escapes his pen, then makes a break for the ocean in the hopes of cooling his burning throat. The path to relief is not an easy one, and along the way Ignatius encounters many obtrusive townspeople. Pies go flying, laundry is entangled, and a cow and an old lady are nearly toppled, but Ignatius is determined to find relief. Finally, he’s knocked flat after slipping on some kelp, which dislodges the dumpling and saves poor Ignatius. Though this story is reminiscent of beloved folktale-esque stories such as Tomie dePaola’s Strega Nona (1975), with its emphasis on scenery and townspeople, the illustrations are unsettling. Evocative word choices (“scalding hot lump of gluey dough” and Ignatius’ “soundless terror”), combined with Tomova’s decision to highlight Ignatius’ irritated throat with pops of red, make many pictures appear gruesome and frightening; at times he appears to be bleeding from the mouth. All human characters in the book present white.

Visceral illustrations give an incongruously disturbing feel to an otherwise charming tale.