Comments on: Pig Will and Pig Won't - a terrific book by Richard Scarry that belongs back in print http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/pig-will-and-pig-wont-a-te.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:13:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Jacob Ewing http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/pig-will-and-pig-wont-a-te.html#comment-1605291 Jacob Ewing Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199548#comment-1605291 One of my favourite books as a child was Scarry's "Cars and Trucks and Things That Go".  Try finding "Goldbug" on every page!  Now it happens to be my daughter's favourite book too - good taste that girl has. One of my favourite books as a child was Scarry’s “Cars and Trucks and Things That Go”.  Try finding “Goldbug” on every page!  Now it happens to be my daughter’s favourite book too – good taste that girl has.

]]> By: Capital_7 http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/pig-will-and-pig-wont-a-te.html#comment-1604757 Capital_7 Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199548#comment-1604757 I worked as a story artist and layout man at the Little Beans studio in Ottawa in the eighties, producing award winning television animations such as "Sunny and Sons", “Apple a Day”,  "Grandfather Wolf's Stories", "Soup & Sandwich" and the more-for-adults/after ten PM programme "Maple Leaves".  We had a grand time working in commercials too, producing PSAs warning of the dangers of chewing tobacco, and the need to keep your car windows clean.  Most prominently, we were the award winning studio responsible for the Claymation series “Pig Will and Pig Won’t”, based on Dick Scarry’s book.  The series ran for six years, starting in 1980 and running into 1987.  PW & PW won Canada’s coveted Crown Award three times, first in 1981 and then again in ’83 and ’85, the last year the Crown was awarded to a children’s television programme.  We also took the top award in children’s education from the Canadian Council of Schools, winning the bronze in 1984 and further, we won Ottawa’s Pork Awareness Prize in 1985.  Scarry’s Pigs Will and Won’t are aninstitution here in the North.  I urge all fans and parents to have a look around for the VHS collection, due out this Spring! I worked as a story artist and layout man at the Little Beans studio in Ottawa in the eighties, producing award winning television animations such as “Sunny and Sons”, “Apple a Day”,  ”Grandfather Wolf’s Stories”, “Soup & Sandwich” and the more-for-adults/after ten PM programme “Maple Leaves”.  We had a grand time working in commercials too, producing PSAs warning of the dangers of chewing tobacco, and the need to keep your car windows clean.  Most prominently, we were the award winning studio responsible for the Claymation series “Pig Will and Pig Won’t”, based on Dick Scarry’s book.  The series ran for six years, starting in 1980 and running into 1987.  PW & PW won Canada’s coveted Crown Award three times, first in 1981 and then again in ’83 and ’85, the last year the Crown was awarded to a children’s television programme.  We also took the top award in children’s education from the Canadian Council of Schools, winning the bronze in 1984 and further, we won Ottawa’s Pork Awareness Prize in 1985.  Scarry’s Pigs Will and Won’t are aninstitution here in the North.  I urge all fans and parents to have a look around for the VHS collection, due out this Spring!

]]> By: Aaron Ximm http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/pig-will-and-pig-wont-a-te.html#comment-1604643 Aaron Ximm Tue, 11 Dec 2012 22:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199548#comment-1604643 Gaaah! Dissenting opinion: do NOT expose your young kids to this book!!! Mark I'm quite surprised to find that your endorsement of PW&PW was not tongue in cheek -- that book has held a special place in our (adult) bookshelf as an eye-poppingly authoritarian morality tale that culminates in the total relinquishing of individual identity! No need to be alarmist, but the way Scarry models the glazed-eye eager full socialization and obedience of Pig Will was on first read so unexpected and disturbing, I spent the entire thing waiting for the 'reveal' that Pig Won't is actually accepted and embraced... ...but it's not to be. Since then I've read ALL Scarry with a different eye, observing the relationship he proposes between state and individual, how law and order is represented, etc. His views are arguably (despite their irrepressible whimsy and humor) quite conservative. I don't find that personally objectionable until they reach the level of PW&PW -- but I wouldn't let my four year old near that book! Compare the Hildafolk books Cory recommended (and my daughter loves), in which a very independent heroine has to make real decisions of moral consequence according to her own intuition, and learns about consequences... ...Pig Won't is merely hammered down, and the morality tale is accomplished by act of divine retribution :P. NOT a fan of this one (except as a conversation piece among consenting and generally equally horrified adult peers)... (NB: most other Scarry classics are in circulation in our house.) aaron Gaaah!

Dissenting opinion: do NOT expose your young kids to this book!!!

Mark I’m quite surprised to find that your endorsement of PW&PW was not tongue in cheek — that book has held a special place in our (adult) bookshelf as an eye-poppingly authoritarian morality tale that culminates in the total relinquishing of individual identity!

No need to be alarmist, but the way Scarry models the glazed-eye eager full socialization and obedience of Pig Will was on first read so unexpected and disturbing, I spent the entire thing waiting for the ‘reveal’ that Pig Won’t is actually accepted and embraced…

…but it’s not to be. Since then I’ve read ALL Scarry with a different eye, observing the relationship he proposes between state and individual, how law and order is represented, etc. His views are arguably (despite their irrepressible whimsy and humor) quite conservative.

I don’t find that personally objectionable until they reach the level of PW&PW — but I wouldn’t let my four year old near that book!

Compare the Hildafolk books Cory recommended (and my daughter loves), in which a very independent heroine has to make real decisions of moral consequence according to her own intuition, and learns about consequences…

…Pig Won’t is merely hammered down, and the morality tale is accomplished by act of divine retribution :P.

NOT a fan of this one (except as a conversation piece among consenting and generally equally horrified adult peers)…

(NB: most other Scarry classics are in circulation in our house.)

aaron

]]> By: superpuppy http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/pig-will-and-pig-wont-a-te.html#comment-1604010 superpuppy Tue, 11 Dec 2012 07:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199548#comment-1604010 I'll second that! I also like that it teaches basic reasoning and logic... most of the time. I’ll second that! I also like that it teaches basic reasoning and logic… most of the time.

]]> By: MM237 http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/pig-will-and-pig-wont-a-te.html#comment-1604000 MM237 Tue, 11 Dec 2012 06:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199548#comment-1604000 I get the Scooby Doo thing but think it could've been worded better. Especially since kids' shows don't need the real kind. I get the Scooby Doo thing but think it could’ve been worded better. Especially since kids’ shows don’t need the real kind.

]]> By: Gyrofrog http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/pig-will-and-pig-wont-a-te.html#comment-1603995 Gyrofrog Tue, 11 Dec 2012 06:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199548#comment-1603995 Anyone else remember the Puzzletown toys?  They had a set at our public library. Anyone else remember the Puzzletown toys?  They had a set at our public library.

]]> By: kroppnr http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/pig-will-and-pig-wont-a-te.html#comment-1603994 kroppnr Tue, 11 Dec 2012 06:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199548#comment-1603994 Don't be so quick to dismiss the Busytown Mysteries cartoon series, it's a quality kids show (at least my kid likes it). The Pig Will and Pig Won't characters evolve from book prototypes in season 1 to brotherly disagreement in season 2, but the show generally is witty, clever, secular humanist (think scooby doo), and a little bit happy mutant. Worth a look on Netflix. Don’t be so quick to dismiss the Busytown Mysteries cartoon series, it’s a quality kids show (at least my kid likes it). The Pig Will and Pig Won’t characters evolve from book prototypes in season 1 to brotherly disagreement in season 2, but the show generally is witty, clever, secular humanist (think scooby doo), and a little bit happy mutant.
Worth a look on Netflix.

]]> By: Tony Lowe http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/pig-will-and-pig-wont-a-te.html#comment-1603979 Tony Lowe Tue, 11 Dec 2012 05:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199548#comment-1603979 My two year old son begs for this book to be read all the time. We have an ancient copy that's been kicking around the family for decades. My two year old son begs for this book to be read all the time. We have an ancient copy that’s been kicking around the family for decades.

]]> By: Dave Pease http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/pig-will-and-pig-wont-a-te.html#comment-1603956 Dave Pease Tue, 11 Dec 2012 05:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199548#comment-1603956 Richard Scarry is the real deal.  What an artist!  I loved his books when I was a kid, and now my kids read them a lot as well. Richard Scarry is the real deal.  What an artist!  I loved his books when I was a kid, and now my kids read them a lot as well.

]]> By: Bob Knetzger http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/pig-will-and-pig-wont-a-te.html#comment-1603952 Bob Knetzger Tue, 11 Dec 2012 05:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199548#comment-1603952 My son and I loved reading Richard Scarry book together--my personal fave was Speedboat Spike! My son and I loved reading Richard Scarry book together–my personal fave was Speedboat Spike!

]]> By: elondaits http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/pig-will-and-pig-wont-a-te.html#comment-1603951 elondaits Tue, 11 Dec 2012 05:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199548#comment-1603951 That book was one of my childhood favorites. I still have my (quite battered) copy around... And I'm 35 now. Also, since I'm from Argentina the one I have is a spanish language edition called "Por favor y muchas gracias". To me Pigs Will and Won't were "Chanchito SÍ" and "Chanchito No" until seconds ago. That book was one of my childhood favorites. I still have my (quite battered) copy around… And I’m 35 now. Also, since I’m from Argentina the one I have is a spanish language edition called “Por favor y muchas gracias”. To me Pigs Will and Won’t were “Chanchito SÍ” and “Chanchito No” until seconds ago.

]]> By: semiotix http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/pig-will-and-pig-wont-a-te.html#comment-1603944 semiotix Tue, 11 Dec 2012 04:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199548#comment-1603944 <blockquote>It's similar to Goofus and Gallant from Highlights magazine, but Goofus and Gallant wasn't nearly as good as this book. <i>Pig Will and Pig Won't</i> is full of delightful jokes and surprises, while Goofus and Gallant is grim and preachy.</blockquote>Goofunfelder thought that Paul Verhoeven's <i>Starship Troopers</i> was an unapologetic ode to fascism meant to be taken at face value. Gallanfelder appreciates the sly subversiveness of a comic drawn to entertain the more repressed class of seven-year-old in dentist's waiting rooms, yet worthy of ironic appreciation by jaded twentysomething stoners.

It’s similar to Goofus and Gallant from Highlights magazine, but Goofus and Gallant wasn’t nearly as good as this book. Pig Will and Pig Won’t is full of delightful jokes and surprises, while Goofus and Gallant is grim and preachy.

Goofunfelder thought that Paul Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers was an unapologetic ode to fascism meant to be taken at face value.

Gallanfelder appreciates the sly subversiveness of a comic drawn to entertain the more repressed class of seven-year-old in dentist’s waiting rooms, yet worthy of ironic appreciation by jaded twentysomething stoners.

]]> By: thatmatt http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/pig-will-and-pig-wont-a-te.html#comment-1603934 thatmatt Tue, 11 Dec 2012 04:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199548#comment-1603934 You can get this story and more in "Richard Scarry's Please and Thank You Book" -- http://www.amazon.com/Richard-Scarrys-Please-Thank-Pictureback/dp/0394826817. A lot of his stories have been combined into these short paperback anthologies. This book also includes "Lowly Worm's Horrid Pests," describing the "Selfish Pest," "Litterbug Pest," "Gobbling Pest" and others. You can get this story and more in “Richard Scarry’s Please and Thank You Book” – http://www.amazon.com/Richard-Scarrys-Please-Thank-Pictureback/dp/0394826817. A lot of his stories have been combined into these short paperback anthologies. This book also includes “Lowly Worm’s Horrid Pests,” describing the “Selfish Pest,” “Litterbug Pest,” “Gobbling Pest” and others.

]]> By: David Aked http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/pig-will-and-pig-wont-a-te.html#comment-1603935 David Aked Tue, 11 Dec 2012 04:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199548#comment-1603935 Book exists.  Bought in last 6 months for my sons 3rd birthday. Pig Will will attend the birthday party.  Pig Won't won't attend the birthday party as he has a cold. Got it as part of a box set.  (Australia)  It also has "Things that go" and a few other books. Book exists.  Bought in last 6 months for my sons 3rd birthday.

Pig Will will attend the birthday party.  Pig Won’t won’t attend the birthday party as he has a cold.

Got it as part of a box set.  (Australia)  It also has “Things that go” and a few other books.

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