Pig Pig Gets A Job is the story of a young pig named Pig Pig who one day informs his mother that he wants money so he could purchase something of his liking. Pig Pig’s mother then informs Pig Pig that if he wants money he must earn it by getting a job. Pig Pig then begins naming jobs he could do to earn money that are a bit out of his capabilities. His mother and him soon decided on some chores he could do around the house that they would call his job. I liked the story Pig Pig Gets A Job. One of the reasons being the bright, colorful illustrations found on every page of the book. These illustrations help students to imagine the ideas that ran through Pig Pig’s mind in regards to job options. When Pig Pig says “’Or I can get a job at the dump… picking up trash and crushing it!’” the illustration on that page is seen as Pig Pig operating a large front loader that is hauling trash and riding over mounds of forgotten debris at the dump. Another aspect of the book that I enjoyed was the organization of the plot. After the introduction of characters and the main conflict of Pig Pig wanting a job, the story then goes back and forth between Pig Pig dreaming of unrealistic jobs and his mother suggesting more practical jobs for Pig Pig around the house. For example, Pig Pig at one point says “’I could get a job building houses…,’” which his mother replies to him by saying “’You might start with something small… A birdhouse would look nice in the yard.’” This is a pattern that continues throughout majority of the book. Yet another reason why I enjoyed the book, and my final reason, is that the big idea of the story is one that I find important for children to grasp- money is something earned, not given. This big idea is best reflected by Pig Pig’s initial conversation with his mother- “’I want some money,’ he told his mother. ‘I want to buy something!’ ‘What do you want to buy dear?’ Pig Pig’s mother asked. ‘I don’t know yet, Pig Pig answered, ‘but something!’ ‘And what will you do to get this money?” said his mother. ‘Do?” said Pig Pig ‘Do,’ said his mother. ‘If you want some money , you must do something to earn it.’” ( )

The book can teach children a valuable lesson. ( )

Pig Pig wants a job, so he and his mom brainstorm different jobs he could do. In the end he decides that doing chores for his mom is the best job for him, a lesson that many children could use. This would be a good book to introduce the ideas of earning money and allowance to a child. ( )

Pig pig asks his mother for money to buy something, but he doesn’t know what he wants to buy. Pig pig is shocked to find out that if he wants his mother to give him money she will need something in return. Pig pig makes many suggestions, but finally ends up getting a job helping his mom around the house, making lunch, washing the car, and cleaning his room.
I think this is a good book because it talks about doing things around the house. I think every child needs to have chores.
In the classroom, each individual student will make a list of things they can do to help their parents around the house. Also, we can talk about how everyone has a profession such as construction worker, cook, teacher, or dentist. I will then ask the students to tell me what they want to be when they grow up

Pig Pig Gets a Job

In Pig Pig Gets a Job, Pig Pig and his mother brainstorm for ideas as to how Pig Pig can earn money to buy items he would like to have. Pig Pig thinks he can do just about anything so his mother constantly tries to keep his ideas age and skill appropriate. This is a very cute picture book for young children. This story would even be good for emergent readers because the pictures do a wonderful job of telling the story.

My personal thought of the book is that David McPhail did a good job of putting together a story about a real life issue. Children from such a young age begin to “want” endlessly and as parents we have to deal with teaching our children about responsibility and “earning” things. I love stories with real life application and enjoyed sharing a book with my child about how someone else has to do chores or jobs to earn things.

To use this book in the classroom I would do several things: First, I would use this story during career week for young children. I would read it to the class and then ask the students to make a list of jobs they would like to do. This would get them thinking about their future. Next, I would love to use this story to teach a unit on responsibility. Borrowing from Character Counts, I think it is always good to teach children to be good characters. To be a good character we must be responsible and take accountability for ourselves. I could ask children to name some other things Pig Pig can do to earn things that are important such as, work hard to earn good grades, being a good neighbor to earn friendships etc. ( )