The Adventures of a South Pole Pig

Title: The Adventures of a South Pole Pig
Author: Chris Kurtz
Major Themes: Pigs, Cats, Dogs, Sled Dogs, Antarctica
Synopsis: Flora, the pig, knew she was born for adventure, but how could she prove that she could pull a sled with the dogs?

I never would have guessed that The Adventures of a South Pole Pig would be such a hit with the younger set! They absolutely loved it, and wanted more every day. They were disappointed when we finished the book.

Flora lived in a small pen with her mother and seven brothers. She wanted adventure. All the other pigs in her family were content to eat and sleep—but Flora wanted more out of life than that! She knew she was born for better things. She befriended Luna, the cat, and learned as much about life outside the pigpen as she could, and when she met up with sled dogs, she knew she had found her calling in life. She would be a sled pig!

Flora ended up on a ship bound for Antarctica. She was sure that the crew were planning to use her to pull sleds, even though the cook kept calling her his little sausage. After several difficult experiences in the hold of the ship, suddenly Flora found herself shipwrecked with the crew, the cat, and a few dogs. Could she fulfill her dream and become a sled pig now?

The Adventures of a South Pole Pig is really hilarious at times! About the only redeeming value I could find, though, was the idea of sticking to your dream and focusing on it until it comes true. It does make for a fun read-aloud time, though; I guess children love books that are pure foolishness, as my husband would term it, sometimes! One thing I did like: it got some of them to read for themselves, since they wanted to read ahead so badly.

WARNING: In chapter six, someone says, “Dabnabbit.”