posted on 20 Aug 2018

Beyond the Fence by Maria Gulemetova

I’m a sucker for an anthropomorphic pig and children’s picture books can always be relied on to come up with some of the very best examples. Now Maria Gulemetova has given us another – Piggy – to add to the list of delightful porcine characters.

Piggy lives in a large house with Thomas, a boy who seems to think he knows exactly what’s best for his porky chum. He makes Piggy listen to his stories, dresses him in rather fetching outfits with large lace collars and makes him play the games Thomas is interested in.

Piggy has no option but to go along with whatever Thomas wants until one day Thomas’ cousin comes to visit and Piggy is left to his own devices. He takes a walk outside and meets Wild Pig who is puzzled by Piggy’s clothes and the fact that he doesn’t want to run around.

Piggy is excited and fascinated by Wild Pig who promises to come and talk with him again but, despite Piggy returning to the same location on a regular basis, Wild Pig doesn’t show.

But just as Piggy gives up hope, Wild Pig turns up again and they arrange another liaison. When Thomas’ cousin leaves and he starts to order Piggy around again, it turns out to be the straw that broke the camel’s back. Ripping off his clothes, Piggy goes back onto all-fours and runs off to freedom with Wild Pig.

This is a beautifully illustrated picture books that tells the story with real economy of words – the drawings add the most eloquent commentary possible. Although Piggy is simply drawn he’s packed with character and expression – his hang-dog disgruntlement is tangible and the excitement of his freedom run is full of verve.

The story will allow children and their parents to talk about what it means to have your own identity and for others to let you be yourself. Piggy has a comfortable life with all the luxuries he could wish for, but despite this he’s not happy because he is being denied the freedom to express his fundamental character.

In a biographical note on the back inside flap of the book, Maria Gulemetova tells us that she comes from a family where her father was himself an illustrator and her mother an art historian at home in Sofia, Bulgaria. She grew up surrounded by beautiful, illustrated books and they’ve certainly done their job because Maria has become a top class illustrator in her own right.

I can easily see how this will be a favourite for younger readers and I can also see how valuable this book would be in a classroom setting where it can be read aloud or where children can explore it individually.

Terry Potter

August 2018

(Click on any image below to see them in a slide show format)