A Spot of Bother
Jonathan Emmett and Vanessa Cabban
Walker Books
The spot referred to in the title of this deliciously funny story is – at least in the first instance – a fairly small red one caused by a cherry squashed beneath the rear end of Pig (of normally pristine appearance) as he feasted on the juicy drupes one breakfast time.

More than a little alarmed at the state of his rump after his meal, Pig attempts unsuccessfully to clean off the spot . Along comes Goat chewing what looks like a beetroot; his efforts to clean off the ‘MONSTROUS MISFORTUNE’ result in an all-over, rosy hued bum for Pig.
Cow is the next to happen along: she proceeds to rub at Pig’s ‘TERRIBLE TRAGEDY’ with a mucky-looking mop.

Now there’s tractor oil spread on top of the beetroot juice but no matter, here’s Sheep to avert the ‘DREADFUL DISASTER’ with a spot of shampoo … Oops! That wasn’t shampoo, Sheep, but sheep dye.

Our porcine pal is now a glorious shade of indigo all over; but, unlike his pals, Pig is not impressed at his new look. Off he goes to hide away only to emerge at nightfall; but that is not the end of Pig’s troubles. A muddy heap is what his friends come upon the following morning as they approach Pig’s shelter. But if you’ve ever tried a facial mud-pack, you’ll know of its cleansing powers.

The effects of the hot sun on pig’s mud-covered body works wonders and what emerges from the mucky mess is, in our protagonist’s own words, a “PERFECTLY PRISTINE PIG!”.

The action is beautifully portrayed in Vanessa Cabban’s wonderful watercolour illustrations. The expressions on the faces of the animals as they both contribute to and observe Pig’s plight, so perfectly capture their changing feelings, and Pig himself is priceless.
The tone of the telling is spot on too: a fantastic author/artist collaboration. (I was saddened to read of Vanessa’s tragic death in an accident at the end of last year so these pictures have a special poignancy for me).

Use your local bookshop