Pigology: The Ultimate Encyclopedia

by Daisy Bird, Camilla Pintonato (Illustrator)

Overview

Welcome to the wonderful world of pigs! Pigology is filled with incredible pig facts told in a playful tone by Daisy Bird, with irresistibly charming illustrations by rising star Camilla Pintonato.

Pigs are full of unexpected surprises. Did you know that when a pig is happy, it will uncoil its curly tail and wag it just like a dog? Or that feral hogs can detect odors from seven miles away? Pigology delves into the history of pigs, pig breeds around the world, famous pigs, pigs in culture, and so much more, with engaging scenes from illustrator Camilla Pintonato. This lively visual encyclopedia, a follow-up to Chickenology, offers something to discover for everyone young and old: nature- and animal-loving young readers, pig enthusiasts, pig farmers, and pet pig owners alike!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781616899899
Publisher:	Chronicle Books
Publication date:	11/02/2021
Series:	Farm Animal Series
Pages:	76
Sales rank:	269,892
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.30(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	6 - 10 Years

About the Author

Camilla Pintonato is an author, illustrator, and graphic designer based in Venice, Italy. Her love for pigs inspired this book, but she likes drawing other animals, such as chickens, too. Her books include Full Moon, Detective Mole, and Chickenology.

Daisy Bird is a New York Times–bestselling author of adult nonfiction who lives in New York and London.

Editorial Reviews

"Aspirationally encyclopedic, this survey covers the pig’s evolution, domestication, characteristics, adaptations, importance as a global food source, appearances in myth, and more….An interesting, absorbing browser."
– Kirkus Reviews ,

"

"Pigology, Chickenology, and Sheepology are my absolute favorite books about farm animals. They explain history and science with ease and charm. These books help us to see that reality transcends fiction, and that once we understand it, our sense of wonder deepens, making the world more enjoyable and more magical.”
– Isabella Rossellini 

From the Publisher

2021-08-18
Aspirationally encyclopedic, this survey covers the pig’s evolution, domestication, characteristics, adaptations, importance as a global food source, appearances in myth, and more.

Bird selects fresh facts. Pigs are resistant to snake venom. They’re as smart as dogs and capable of episodic memory—the ability to learn from past experiences. She’s forthcoming about scatological and reproductive attributes, too: Across cultures, the omnivorous pig has played a role as a household waste recycler, including of excrement. A “Facts of Life” section includes details about mating behaviors, the shape of a boar’s penis, and piglets’ growth stages. The rectum and anus figure in an anatomical illustration; Bird asserts that a “full-grown hog will produce six and a half pounds of manure a day.” She cheerfully addresses young readers: “Here’s a fact that may surprise you: pigs can swim!” Several spreads reveal the international array of meat products derived from the pig. “Everything but the Squeal” examines how collagen, bristles, skin, and even heart valves are utilized in industrial production and medicine. Pintonato’s illustrations vacillate between realistic details and fanciful tableaux. In an anthropomorphized spread about pig illnesses, several hospital beds contain pigs attended by health care workers. Additional sections include pigs in pop culture and as pets; thumbnails highlight 20 of the species’s more than 500 breeds. A table of contents is of marginal utility; the project entirely lacks indexing, documentation, or readers’ resources.

An interesting, absorbing browser. (Informational picture book. 6-9)

Kirkus Reviews