Yes, another book in my Binky research. Like many of the others this one isn't newly published, but it's still available.

The approach this book takes is the 'pacifier is getting in the way of my fun' approach. Piggie has a binky he loves, but too often these days it is getting in the way if his play with Ducky.

** POSSIBLE SPOILERS**
Things come to a head when Piggy runs out of backups. You see he drops it in the dirt a couple of times, and unlike some kids I know he doesn't just pop it back into his mouth. And the first few times he just reaches into his pocket and pulls out a clean replacement. When he runs out of options, he ponders the situation and Ducky helps by urging him on, suggesting they put it aside and continue playing.

The ARTWORK in this book is so cute. There a little images on the text pages and giant images on facing pages. So. Very. Adorable!

And speaking of TEXT. The font is huge. Even I don't need to wear me specs.

Whether you are engaged in the Binky battles or just looking for a cute book to share, consider this one for both laptime or classroom time. The size of the pictures in this large format book should make it useful for reading to more than one child.

~Find it at the Library.

Piggy and Ducky are playing hide and seek, but Piggy keeps getting distracted by his pacifier falling out. Will he be able to keep having fun?

This is another picture book in a series from Ford and Williams that aims to help toddlers/young preschoolers move away from babyish behaviors. The goal in this book is for young kids to stop walking around with pacifiers all day long. This is a worthy goal, giving that prolonged use of pacifiers can lead to speech and dental problems, which are difficult long-term effects to explain to small children.

However, I feel like this book doesn't necessarily do a great job of discouraging children from wanting to use a pacifier. In the book, the main problem with the pacifier is that Piggy can't smile or laugh when he has it in his mouth. While it's not uncommon to see a pacifier pop out of the mouth of small infants when they smile or laugh, older kids (aka the audience for this book) are usually pretty adept at holding on to the pacifier when smiling or even when laughing. So this "impediment" caused by the pacifier in the story is not really one that is applicable to real life.

Furthermore, when Piggy starts to cry because he's dropped his pacifier after laughing and now it's too dirty to put back in his mouth, his tears immediately stop when Ducky re-initiates their game of hide and seek. Kids who use pacifiers past babyhood generally do so because it is a way to comfort themselves when they get upset; they would be very unlikely to quickly stop crying just because someone says so. Yes, they can eventually be distracted but it's not as easy as it's made out to be here. And if the way for a child to self comfort is taken away with the only replacement being comfort from an outside source (i.e., a friend), then this is not a helpful lesson in what to do to better deal with strong emotions.

I understand this is a book of fiction and it's designed for a very young audience, so it makes sense in a way for it to be a simplistic book in which a condensed version of the problem and the solution are presented. But it just seems to me that this book won't really help a kid who is attached to their pacifier long past its best by date, as neither the problem nor the "solution" will be recognizable to the child. For that reason, I would not necessarily recommend this book as a useful tool in a parent or caregivers battle to get rid of the pacifier. ( )

Piggy can't talk or laugh because his pacifier Is in the way. When it falls out and he cries, his friend Ducky tells him he can play without it. Piggy doesn't need it anymore. This is a cute story to read to very young children about growing up. ( )

Ford, B., & Williams, S. (2008). No More Pacifier for Piggy! new York: Boxer Books.

1905417896

Pacifier loving Piggy and Ducky decide to play a game of peek-a-boo, but Piggy's pacifier gets in the way of him speaking, laughing and having fun. While playing together, Piggy realizes that he doesn't need his pacifier.

The illustrations are fun, with Ducky and Piggy having the proportions of toddlers. (They even drink from piggy and ducky cops).

Activities to Do with the Book:

This story can be used to help ease toddlers of their dependency for a pacifier. It provides some nice justifications for setting the pacifier aside. This is a much gentler way than, you know, hiding the pacifier on night and not giving your daughter another one EVER, Mom and Dad! *SPOILER* But where Piggy managed to forget about his need for a pacifier, I was not so lucky. I had to turn to my thumb. I would not be deterred!!!!!

Ah-hem, and for younger children, this book could trigger a game of peek-a-boo.


Favorite Quotes:

“Piggy knocks on Ducky's door. He is sucking on his pacifier. Ducky peeks out the window. "Peek-a-boo, Piggy!" she says. "Do you want to play a new game with me?"
Piggy nods his head up and down. He tries to smile at ducky, but his pacifier is in the way."

"Piggy laughs...and drops his pacifier on the ground!"

"Peek-a-boo, Ducky!" Piggy says softly. "Peek-a-boo, I see you!"

"No more pacifier for Piggy!"

For more of my reviews, visit sjkessel.blogspot.com.