All About Luna The Moon Pig - The Pig Who Hid. A Family Tale of Caring, Sharing, Rejection, Hope, Fun, Adventure, Happiness, Sadness, Love, Magic and Self Discovery. Dedicated to Families of Piggies and People Worldwide
Luna Moon Pig is the cutest of pigs, with a moon face, chocolate-drop eyes, and the wiggliest of tails. The Millers adopt her, and give her to their daughter, Maria. But Moon Pig longs for her freedom, and she soon escapes! A friendly cardinal bird, and a wise owl accompany her on her adventure - a magical journey to a wild wood, and beyond. When Luna returns to her surrogate family, something is different! How has she changed? Who did she meet? She has made a discovery, and has a new philosophy about life! What she knows now will change her life, for good! This is a fairy tale for all ages, that tells of a kind of magic - the magic of self-belief!
Luna The Moon Pig - a fairy-tale that came from real life!
One day, author Suzy Davies was standing on the back porch step in the back yard of her house in Florida, taking in the evening sunset, when she saw a little black animal creep out from under the bushes! At first, Suzy thought it was one of the cats who lived in the neighborhood. But this animal did not move like a cat. It kept its nose to the ground, and rustled through leaves. It didn’t sound like a cat, either. It made a squeaking sound!
Suzy slowly approached the small animal, and to her surprise, it was a piggy! Sure enough, this little piggy was very shy, and when she saw Suzy, off she trotted!
That same evening, Suzy put out lettuce and water for the her. She tried to make sure the piggy was fed and watered. The piggy was sighted for several days and nights. Suzy took notes as she observed her antics from the back window. Very quickly, Suzy came to realize that this cute shy piggy was a nocturnal animal. She liked to hide away from people, under the cover of the dark. Little did the piggy know how visible she was under the light of the Harvest Moon! At last, the runaway piggy was captured by a neighbour and returned to her owners to make a real life fairy-tale ending. Suzy could never forget the little piggy. “Ah, Luna,….” Suzy thought, and the name fitted the lovable piggy very well.
Suzy knew she had the seed of an idea for a children’s book, and she set to work. When the first draft of her story was complete, she wondered who might be the best illustrator for her Luna piggy tale.
Abracadabra!
One person - and one person only - came to mind, Sheila Graber, the award-winning world-acclaimed animator for “Paddington Bear” and animator/illustrator for Kipling’s “Just So” stories, who Suzy knew had an empathy for animals and animal tales. Suzy sent off an email to Sheila just to ask Sheila what she thought of her story. Suzy hoped Sheila would enjoy it, and enjoy it - Sheila did!
Author and illustrator decided to collaborate on Luna’s story “just for fun” and fully immersed themselves, day by day, in the creation of a book. Sheila enlisted the help of a real family to act as models for The Millers in her stunning rotoscoped cartoon-style drawings based on reality, which range from Whimsical to Wonderful!
Sheila also dreamed up a special name - Moonwishes Magic - for Suzy’s notion of making wishes under the light of a glowing moon. This magic seemed to touch everything the two collaborators did together, with text and images falling into place to make this enchanting tale a dream come true!
Sheila read Luna The Moon Pig aloud to 6 year old Henry, who enjoyed the book so much that Sheila and Suzy decided this piggy tale was a tale to be shared.
Suzy Davies is an award-winning author of children's and ya books.
"The Snow Queen," by Suzy Davies, is set in Ireland, Eire, England, Denmark, Norway and Finland.
"Housie Mousie and The Big Cheese," an animal adventure for middle grade readers, is inspired by "The Wind in The Willows," and "Stuart Little," and is set in The Cotswolds in England.
The sequel, with a Christmas story, "Housie Mousie and The Christmas Crow," is available now.
"Poop The Dragon," published by The Elite Lizzard Publishing Company, in Canada, is now launched.
"Luna and The Snow Cat," the second book in The Luna Series, is on Amazon kindle books, and in illustrated paperback. It is a traditional picture book wintry solstice story for all the family to enjoy together.
I wrote the book, and I am pleased with it. I'm particularly happy that the story is simple enough for younger children as a read-aloud book as well as appealing to older siblings and adults.
The illustrations by Sheila Graber, famous for her animation and illustration of Paddington Bear and family and Rudyard Kipling's "Just So" stories really bring out the story and delight children. The color palette is enchanting, for example with reds and yellows heralding the arrival of the cardinal bird, and happiness at sunrise, and pale grays and blues creating the enchantment of Moonwishes magic, central to my story.
I like the fact that my themes teach children about the importance of friendship, loyalty, family, home, and belonging. The most important message is, of course, about having hope and the power of self-belief to transform our lives.
Are you satisfied with the way you look? When staring at yourself in the mirror, do you only see the imperfections that you wish you could change? Or, maybe you are perfectly content with your reflection and are able to confidently face each day with a burning zest and optimism. To which way of thinking do you belong? If it is the former, then you have a lot in common with Luna the Moon Pig. This is a delightful children’s book (ages up to 9 years old), which conveys a very important message in a beautifully crafted story.
Essentially, the story is about a little piglet named Luna. We are introduced to Luna from the very first day in which she is born as the runt of the litter. Teased by her siblings who call her names such as “fat face,” Luna becomes very insecure about herself and how she looks. This little piggy has some serious self-esteem and low self-worth issues! We continue to see evidence of this as visitors come by the farm to purchase baby piglets and Luna comments:
“I wish I looked cute like them!
Then someone would love me and I’d be happy too.”
However, much to Luna’s surprise, she is selected and quickly loved by a girl named Maria who takes her home to be part of the family.
Although their time together is wonderful, Luna decides to go into the forest and see what the outside world has to offer. After rolling around in the mud, Luna is teased by the various woodland creatures for her appearance and nicknamed “Moon Crater Face.” At this point, Luna wants to go home to the loving Maria more than anything. However, she questions to herself why Maria would possibly want such an ugly creature as Luna to return. Will Luna make it home? Or will her deeply entrenched insecurity and low self-esteem prevent Luna from ever discovering the joy of having a loving family?
While the preceding story line follows the life of a little piglet, it nevertheless rings true for so many children and adults alike. Insecurity and low self-esteem can be very difficult emotional traits to endure and overcome for all people… particularly children! It can have a massive negative impact on their learning, development, and happiness. To be able to overcome these suffocating emotions can open up a wealth of joy, happiness and opportunity.
In her story, Suzy Davies has included a number of important themes and messages. For example, Luna’s low self-esteem and insecurity can certainly be attributed to the teasing she endured at the hands of others. Learning to accept yourself for what you are and overcoming adversity stands out as a prevalent theme. In an age which is placing increasing emphasis on social/emotional learning, this is certainly a critical message to impart.
The writing and illustration in this book seem to naturally compliment each other. The watercolor illustrations are beautiful and do a great job of helping the reader to understand the story. A very important criteria for very early readers in particular. The writing has a natural flow which aptly captures the emotions of childhood. For instance, the scene early on in the story when Luna is sold to Maria, and then proceeds to cry and squeal for her Mommy, will instantly strike a chord with children and lead to active engagement.
As a former teacher and school principal, I have a special place in my heart for children’s books. To have an impact there needs to be so many components all clicking together. Children can be a tough audience! This story hits all of them and as such gets 5 oinky stars!
Luna the Moon Pig is a delightful (pig’s) tale of love, adventure, and belonging by Suzy Davies with gorgeous illustrations by Sheila Graber .. a special treat for your (grand)children and yourself!
“Dedicated to families of piggies and people worldwide, Luna the Moon Pig is the cutest of pigs, with a moon face, chocolate-drop eyes, and the wiggliest of tails.”
| Introduction |
Once upon a time, far, far away from here little piggies were born on a farm. The last of the litter was a little black pig with chocolate-brown eyes. Her face was all shiny and round, just like the moon she was born under. No wonder her name was to be Luna – the moon pig!
| Storyline |
The little pigs would go to homes where they would be treated as pets – and all of them found a home except for Luna. She was too shy to come forward and too little to be noticed.
Behold, there was a girl, Maria, who dreamed of a pig to call her own. Her friends with cats and dogs as pets laughed at her and made fun of her wish. But all Maria could think of was a little cuddly pig for herself. Would she ever have one?
Maria is so happy she may pick out one pig to take home! She chooses the one with the wiggliest tail – yes, you know who that is! That is our little, shy Luna with her chocolate-brown eyes! Luna goes home with Maria but everything is so strange that Luna is a little bit scared…
Maria and Luna play hide and seek in the garden but still, Luna misses her mummy and dreams of the magical tales she told. About a world out there, just behind the garden gate. About the mud and.. a secret place.. ssh! Do you want to know what it is called? Shall I tell you?
That secret place is called… the Wet Wild Woods! Do you want to know what happens there? There are animals out there Luna meets and becomes friends with, there is a beautiful moonlit lake and… so much more! Come, let us follow Luna on her adventurous, moonlight magical trip!
Adventures provide the opportunity to find out so much about the world. They teach us to believe in our own ability. Luna inspired Maria to create something wonderful. What? Read ‘LUNA THE MOON PIG’ and find out for yourself!
| My Thoughts |
This unique children’s book is a treasure – a delightful and wonderful tale of magic and the moon, of a pig wanting to belong somewhere, of a lonely girl, Maria, with a dream: a pig of her own. Luna is just adorable and the magic of the story splashes off each page of the book. I love it – the sentences flowing so smoothly, almost poetical, the stunning illustrations… I loved the alluring and enchanting drawings.
A captivating and charming book for children of all ages; the very young can enjoy the colourful images and the lovely Luna, children from four to six years old and up will love to hear you reading the story to them. What a beautiful tale to show your (grand)children and what a great starting point to talk to and with them about accepting others and having self-respect, of believing in yourself, inspiring others and following your dreams.
What a glorious children’s book this is. Luna the Moon Pig is just delightful. Luna’s character is so well developed, being an insecure individual who learns to love herself through her adventures. She’s intelligent, appealing and I have a horrible feeling will make every child encountering this book want a pig as a pet, so parents – you have been warned!
There’s a fabulous plot that takes the reader from Luna’s birth through her new home and adventures to discovering her real value in life. All of this is told in excellent, straightforward language that not only conveys the narrative well and is interesting, but is accessible for slightly older children of around six to read independently so that their own literacy can be enhanced at the same time as they are being entertained.
The themes presented are so good for children to encounter and explore without feeling threatened personally. Luna lacks confidence in her appearance but comes to realise that beauty is on the inside too. She is aware of stranger danger and yet understands there is an exciting world to investigate but that family and home are important. I loved the blend of traditional fairy tale elements like wishes and magic alongside the more prosaic (and that’s not a criticism) aspects of simply having fun.
Alongside a smashing story of Luna’s adventures are wonderful illustrations by Sheila Graber that beautifully enhance the narrative. I loved the way the people in the book represent a wide range of ethnicities so that Luna the Moon Pig feels naturally inclusive and not contrived. Luna comes alive in these illustrations adding to the feeling that she is a very real character.
I think Luna the Moon Pig: The Pig Who Hid is a wonderful children’s book and cannot recommend it highly enough.
This charming children's book by Suzy Davies and illustrated by Sheila Graber is an absolute amazing joyful read for young children. The story of Luna the Moon Pig is told in a most lovely fashion, accompanied with amazing drawings, where young children will come closer to all kinds of animals with the intention, in my view, to let them learn about the wonderful relationship that can develop between young children and different kinds of beautiful animals. It's also a captivating and charming book for young children to learn about emotions like love, companionship, loneliness, devotion and understanding, because all these emotions are happening in this book between our little piglet Luna and the sad lonely girl Maria Miller. Luna the Moon Pig also teaches us all that whoever and whatever we are or try to be, in the end we can all find our way to a home which is full of acceptance, generosity, friendship and a loving family. Highly recommended, for this is a truly wonderful illustrated and written children's book, and that's why I would like to say to young children, ask your parents or grandparents for this lovely book and embrace "Luna's Delightful Journey"!
A little black pig, last of the litter, is born at midnight, on a Harvest moon night; she gets named Luna, for the Latin name for moon.
Love the author's charming AND educational illustrations. Piglet Luna is born in the South. The illustrations feature planet Earth with a huge harvest Moon, and Luna's human parents' house is shown, positioned in the American South. The piglets will be sold, but only to people who love them, not to people who will slaughter them.
Nearby lives Maria Miller who loves pigs and wants a pig for a pet. Her friends laugh at her. Maria utters her wish during a night when the moon shines bright. Meanwhile Luna has her own problems with self confidence. Her brothers and sisters call her "Fat Face."Is it a surprise that they'll come together? On her 8th birthday, Maria's parents buy her a piglet and Maria chooses Luna. Luna loves Maria as well as staying with her, but she also dreams of a bigger world - "The Wild Wet Woods." Being Luna, she escapes. That's when the adventures begin. Luna finds the "The Wild Wet Woods" and makes animal friends, she also discover humans' dangerous roads, and saves a little piglet. Finally, Tawny, the smart owl teaches her to love herself, which is what Luna's journey is all about - self-discovery. There is a lovely and extremely clever ending to this story that I will not reveal ( - - no spoilers from this reviewer - never). Maria gets to be a star too.
Adorable illustrations!!! Loved the book, it's going in my grandson's collection. 5 stars, Gisela Hausmann, author & blogger
***I was given a free copy of LUNA THE MOON PIG: THE PIG WHO HID by writer Suzy Davies in exchange for my honest review***
Sheila Graber’s stunning illustrations are the highlight of this children’s book. Her drawings gorgeously convey so much heart and emotion bringing Luna and her journey to light. Suzy Davies’s plot was well conceived. Unfortunately, the actual writing was clunky, too wordy for young children, so I wouldn’t purchase. Tighter editing for more age appealing language could have made a big difference.
This whimsical tale is an inspirational gift for both children and adults. Luna takes the reader on a magical journey from the moment she appears hiding beside her fellow piglets. Captivating and heartwarming, Luna The Moon Pig: The Pig Who Hid, teaches a valuable lesson in finding one's inner beauty and special place in the world. The storytelling is both heartwarming and educational, demonstrating the importance of valuing oneself, while caring for the needs of others. Brilliant illustrations draw the reader into a magical world full of love and light. This ageless story demonstrates the importance of family, animal welfare, and the value of community. I highly recommend this fabulous book!
I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Luna the Moon Pig, The Pig Who Hid by Suzy Davies tells the story of Luna, a piglet and the runt of her litter. Luna, born under the Harvest Moon is teased by her siblings and becomes insecure about how she looks. Luna is illustrated with an adorable round face and big chocolate eyes; no different than her siblings and quite adorable. Luna is chosen and loved very much by a little girl named Maria. One day Luna ventures into the woods, once again teased by the woodland creatures for her looks (she rolls in the mud and is called Moon Crater face). Luna is afraid to go home to Maria because she is worried Maria will think she is ugly too. After meeting a wise owl and a little reflection in some water, Luna is ready to go home. This tells a story of love, insecurity, and overcoming that fear. Luna the Moon Pig is a tale all children can learn from and very well illustrated in watercolors. I recommend this book for all ages while children at a third-grade reading level and up can read it on their own.
I received this book from the author in exchange of an honest review.
I was delighted that I had the chance to read this book, because it was oh so adorable! It is about a little pig named Luna (named because she was born under the moon) and how she is about to go to a brand-new family.
The book shows us two sides, mostly it is about Luna, about how she feels when she is taken away from her mother, how she tries to adapt to her new situation with her new family, and how eventually she escapes and goes on a wonderful, but confusing journey to find her mom again. But we also see Maria's side, the little girl who got Luna as her new pet. She just adores pigs, and I loved that. Most kids just love cats and dogs, the standard kind of pet, but Maria? Maria loves pigs and she won't have anyone tell her that having a pig as a pet is weird (go girl!). I loved how she selected Luna, and how much she loved and cared for her.
Luna's journey was pretty heartbreaking. She gets lost, she feels lonely, but on her journey she finds new friends, and they help her figure out things, guide her along the way, talk with her. And yes, I have to say at times I just was sniffling as it was quite sad. Especially later when Luna realises a few new things about her new family.
I felt sorry for Maria, she was just so so worried when Luna disappeared.
Of course, you can guess the ending, and I am sure that everyone, just like me, will love it. Happy for Luna, happy for Maria, and cheering for Maria when she unveiled her project about her little pig.
The art was actually the only thing that wasn't entirely my cup of tea. It just felt a bit too much like someone had cut up some photographs and traced lines over it. :( It just isn't my style. Sorry. Though there was one exception, and that was how Luna was done at times, she was just so cute with those big eyes of hers.
All in all, this was one adorable, sweet, beautiful book, and I liked it oh so much. I would recommend it.
Luna was the runt of the litter. Her mother loved her, but people who came to see her brothers and sisters never looked at her.
Maria loved all animals, but her favourite animal happened to be a pig. Her parents agreed to let her have one as a pet and the minute she saw Luna, she fell instantly in love with this little girl piglet.
This is the story of a little piglet, a girl and the bond between them. The story is beautiful and gentle. The drawings manage to tell the story to perfection.
Treebeard
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. Make sure to check out more reviews at Katherine's Book Reviews.
Luna The Moon Pig: The Pig Who Hid is a children’s book by Suzy Davies.
Summary: Luna Moon Pig is the cutest of pigs, with a moon face, chocolate-drop eyes, and the wiggliest of tails. The Millers adopt her, and give her to their daughter, Maria. But Moon Pig longs for her freedom, and she soon escapes! A friendly cardinal bird, and a wise owl accompany her on her adventure - a magical journey to a wild wood, and beyond. When Luna returns to her surrogate family, something is different! How has she changed? Who did she meet? She has made a discovery, and has a new philosophy about life! What she knows now will change her life, for good! This is a fairy tale for all ages, that tells of a kind of magic - the magic of self-belief!
Kids will light up when they read about Luna the pig and her adventure away from home. Luna may just be a pig, but what I really like about this book is that she has a big voice. There is a great understanding of how she is feeling at all moments, and is written in a way that kids will understand and sympathize. All of the animals are personified very well; I really enjoyed getting to know each and every animal that Suzy interacts with. The illustrations by Sheila Garber really compliment the story, and I know kids will be drawn to her fun and cute designs.
Overall, I like this book a lot. Suzy Davies writing is simple and energetic at the same time. The pacing is quick enough to keep children interested, but not quick enough that you don’t understand what’s happening in the story. She does a great job of creating character development and highlight themes such as insecurity and love within a short amount of time. I have no doubt kids will be drawn to this story and I can see it quickly involving into an ongoing series. I suggest this book to any kids (or parents) who are looking to read about self-love and family. This book teaches you that although at times you may doubt yourself, you must firmly believe in who you are to maintain happiness.
This is wonderful book for the young reader. I read it with my grandkids and they loved not only the story, but also the illustrations (by Sheila Graber). I thought the text and illustrations worked very well together. This is an endearing but significant story that communicates important life lessons, and teaches children about accepting others and having self-worth. It will encourage children to believe in themselves and inspire them to follow their dreams.
Author Suzy Davies writes in a wonderful soothing style that guarantees the attention of young minds. If you ever wanted to bond even more with your children or grandchildren, this would be a lovely read to share with them.
It seems to me that this book was created with a lot of love and joy and it’s obvious that the author really enjoys creating such wonderful stories. Thank you for sharing with us the gift that you have obviously worked so hard to refine. We’ll be looking forward to seeing what’s coming next. A well-deserved five stars from us.
Luna – The Moon Pig is an adorable children’s tale about a sweet, black piglet named Luna with “chocolate-drop eyes” and a face that is “round and shiny, just like the moon.”
This is a wonderful, modern fairytale about family, love, self-acceptance, and magical moonwishes! The story follows Luna from birth and depicts an adventure of: leaving her mother, finding a new home with a pig-loving little girl named Maria, venturing out on her own into the “Wet Wild Woods,” meeting new friends who help keep her safe and well fed, learning to appreciate her appearance, and returning home to Maria and her caring family.
An element of this story I enjoy is the omniscient narration which allows us to share the perspectives of both Luna while on her adventure, as well as Maria and her family who continuously search for Luna during her absence.
I also love the simple elegance of the writing by Suzy Davies. The language is accessible enough for young children to understand, and it reads as classic, timeless prose.
The illustrations paired with the text are absolutely spectacular! Sheila Graber, illustrator of Paddington Bear and Kipling’s Just So stories, has brought to life a sweet, loveable little piglet who will make a great addition to any family’s reading time.
I highly recommend this story for children ages 4-9 years of age. Luna’s exciting adventure is sure to become a family reading favourite!
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Luna the Moon Pig 🐷 was a big hit with Miss Ruby Heart. It was a Paw~fect bedtime story and she gave it 🐾🐾🐶 (4 Paws & a lick = 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Luna is born the last of the litter at midnight on the day of the full Harvest Moon.
Her face is big, shiny and round just like the moon. Sadly this little piglet lacks confidence she does not rhink she is pretty and is always hiding her face away.
During her adventures, although she is aware of 'stranger danger' she still takes herself off into the wild woods. It is rather frightening will she ever find her way home? Will the creatures she meet help or hinder her and what is Moonwishes Magic?
We recommend you grab a copy to share with your little ones to find out. We loved it and the beautiful llustrations really bring the story to life. A book to treasure.
Happy Reading 🐷🌹🌚📖
A picture book to share with the whole family or for competent young readers to enjoy alone time and again.