The Marzipan Pig

By Russell Hoban

Book Overview

Who but Russell Hoban could weave a tale of life's pleasures and pain around a candy pig? And who but Quentin Blake could make the most poignant of stories so lighthearted and delightful? In this episodic picture book by an inimitable author-illustrator duo, a fantastic chain of events is triggered by the unacknowledged fall of a marzipan pig behind the sofa. We meet in quick succession a heartsick mouse, a lonely grandfather clock, an owl in love with a taxi meter, a worker bee, a fading hibiscus flower, a mouse who greets the dawn dancing, and finally a boy who guesses at the true relations between things. Appealing to the unsentimental yet sensitive nature of children, The Marzipan Pig is exquisitely attuned to the bittersweet wonder of life and to the sentience of all beings.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0DR4MKBXY
• ISBN13: 9798896230076
• Release Date: June 2026
• Publisher: Nyrb Kids
• Length: 48 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Age Range: 6 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 4

Customer Reviews

The most amazing children's book ever

I bought this book for a quarter at a tag sale for my son. Although he's not yet old enough to be interested in it, I immediately fell in love. It is beautifully written, more of a poem than a story. Its just wonderful, there really is no other word. I am sure I will read it over and over (although for the price of it offered here, I will not be buying it for friends and relatives, as planned when I got online tonight).

A beautiful poem in the form of a children's story

I can say without exaggeration that this book changed my life. I read it over 15 years ago when I was studying Hoban as a literature student and was stuck by the bitter thread of lonliness that runs through much of Hoban's writing. I think it finds its most perfect and certainly its most concentrated expression in this work. Yes, this is a children's story and my children love it (although not as much as, say, ACE Dragon) but it is also so much more. When I first met my wife ten years ago I gave her a copy of this book. Actually, we had been going out for a month or two and she called me that day to say we shouldn't see any more of each other. She thought our relationship might have a negative impact on her career as we were work colleagues at the time. I wandered into a bookstore at lunchtime and chanced upon a copy of Marzipan Pig which I bought and left with her. Three days later she called me back to say she had made a mistake. Thus I avoided the fate of the clock in this story. Thank you Mr Hoban, many thanks indeed.

edible love

Love......................Love.................................... the owl looked with powerful intent,Love............. the neon taxi lamp was the most beautiful thing to be ever who, whoed by owl.This book is the sweetest childrens story an adult will ever read.Our passionless moments in life are all in this splendid book. Something one can digest with ones family.