BOOKS: The Princess and the Pig

Congratulations to Tina Harrison for winning this week's book giveaway!  While this contest is now closed, please come back to SixSeeds for more giveaways for good, family, fun!

At SixSeeds, we believe in the power of a good story... even the books our small children are hearing and reading.  Stories have an amazing power to move, inspire, and sometimes even transform lives... even young lives. This week, we take a popular kids' book and examine it. Hopefully,  the next time you're browsing though a crowded bookstore...  you can choose wisely!

Title: The Princess and the Pigs
Author: Kade Grayson
Illustrator: Cami Thornock
Publisher: Mud Puddle Press
Age:  6 to 11, but kids will get different themes depending on age
Cost: $16.99
Buy it: Amazon
Rating:  5 out of 6 seeds

Once upon a time, in the pristine kingdom of Sisterstern, there lived a spunky princess named Cynthia. The King and Queen of Sisterstern were highly regarded for their utterly clean and perfectly spotless kingdom. Princess Cynthia’s father, the King, enacted strict laws, including banishment for merely leaving a crumb on the grass.

Princess Cynthia spent her days in the castle, doing things that would not result in dirt under her well manicured nails. Except for Tuesdays, when she would sneak out by leaving the kitten to run across the piano keys, making it appear she was practicing the piano. On one of these escapades into the countryside, she befriends some lowly pigs and notes their despair.

“It’s the constant cleanliness,” they replied. “It looks good to others, but it makes us perfectly miserable. We would gladly wash off in the evening if we just didn’t have to roast during the day.

“Will a little mud fix all your problems then?” She asked.

“It would solve most of them, but I fear it would cause many others. It is better left as it is,” said the roundest and shiniest pig.

“I would rather see the mud than your sorrow,” said Cynthia.

So the princess gets a bucket and creates a mud puddle, despite the concerns of the pigs. “We cannot risk the imprisonment of our new friend. You mean more to us than the mud,” they pleaded. The princess continues her friendship, even diving into the mud puddle, with the pigs (something she always wanted to do).  Notably, she also enjoys being clean again, having no real desire for dirt in the kingdom herself. Selflessly, she fights on the pig's behalf simply because she sees the unfairness through their eyes. 

So, when the pigs are banished for Insubordination and Filthy Desecration of the Outdoor Kingdom as a result of the mud puddle, Princess Cynthia takes her fight to a new level. She leaves the comfortable palace (where she has everything she should have ever wanted) and refuses to return until the pigs are granted their “necessities.”

The king genuinely loves his daughter, making the ending fairly predictable. (Think of the picture book version of that memorable scene in Chocolat in which the mayor of the town is laying in the chocolate as he is devouring it.)

The Bottom Line:

If you are looking for a lot of bang for your buck in the discussion category, this may be your book. In just thirty pages, you will find issues of loyalty, compassion, charity, civil disobedience, free speech, family relationships, oppression, justice, sacrifice, freedom and more.

For Parents to Consider:

The King’s rule was overbearing. In many ways, his desire (in this case for order and cleanliness) was honorable and should have enhanced the lives of his subjects.  But, like we often do, he used a good thing in a disproportionate way and caused them oppression .  As parents, is our rule oppressive? In what ways?

Where do we fail to inspire our children? In hearing the daughter’s passionate pleas for the pigs, the father answers, “you are far too lovely to have such opinions.” Where might we be quick to dismiss our kids’ conscientious thoughts?

Were the  actions of the princess completely admirable? Is she a model of what we aspire to see in our kids? Was her defiance of the king’s decree justifiable, or could she have sought justice without the disobedience?

What do we want our kids to understand about obedience when they don’t agree with what we are asking of them?  Tedd Tripp addresses “the process of appeal” in his book, Shepherding a Child’s Heart. He believes kids should be able to appeal parental decisions, but it’s up to the parents to establish an honorable method of appeal… and the kids to work within that appropriate system. 

Pattern for Appeal:

1. You must begin to obey immediately, not after appeal
2. You must be prepared to obey either way
3. You must appeal in a respectful manner
4. You must accept the result of the appeal with a gracious manner

To Talk to Your Kids About:

This was an endearing tale of loyalty.  Is loyalty always a good thing?  How were the pigs loyal to the princess? How was princess loyal to the pigs?  How was the King loyal to his daughter?  Where could the daughter have been more loyal or honoring to her father? (And yet still use her influence for change.)

In what ways, like the princess, can we use our power and resources to help others who are less fortunate?

Was her civil disobedience necessary? Was it necessary for her to leave her Father’s home in this case? When do we acquiesce to the demands of those in authority over us, even while we seek change? When is it okay to disobey?

In America, we have a number of wonderful and ethical ways to bring about change. What are some of those? When should we utilize them?  Do strikes/protests have a valid place in our society? What is the purpose of petitions? What part do attorneys play in defending people and their rights? How are our armed forces involved in this fight?

We are giving this book away this week! Please leave a comment for a chance to win. We always love to hear from you.

On one week from publication at noon (EST), we'll pick a name in a random drawing from all eligible entries received and send you an email notification.  When you receive your package in the mail, you'll find out which book you received!

Limit one (1) entry per person; NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and Washington D.C. who are 18 or older as of date of entry.