THE PECULIAR PIG

The sweet, funny story of a dachshund puppy who learns it is fine to be different from her piglet siblings.

There was a different sort of piglet in the pigpen one cool spring morning.

That "different" one is named Penny, and she's really not a piglet at all... she's a puppy. A puppy who gets longer and longer as her piglet siblings get bigger and bigger. Penny doesn't understand why she's different - she only knows that Mama Pig loves her just the same as the rest of the litter. Penny's siblings are baffled by her peculiar behavior - like digging with her paws instead of her snout, and especially her loud, sharp oink. Good thing Penny likes all the sounds she can make, and when danger strikes and her peculiarities prove to be strengths, the piglets see that sometimes it's good to be a little different!

CELEBRATES UNIQUENESS: Shows that what makes us seem peculiar to others can actually be our best asset - and that sometimes not being one of the crowd is a blessing in disguise.
UPBEAT TALE OF DIVERSITY: For example, Penny's siblings definitely notice her short legs, but at the same time are impressed because she can run so fast.
WONDERFUL ADOPTION STORY: Penny truly is one of the family, and the other piglets know about her differences but in the end love her all the more for them.
CHARMING ILLUSTRATIONS: All of the piglets are adorable, especially the one who's really a dachshund.
FUNNY SIBLING EXCHANGES: Readers will get a kick out of Penny trying to oink, as well as the piglets trying to bark and growl.


Joy Steuerwald also illustrated the board book Moo (by Jaye Garnett), and works as an artist and animator. She is a graduate of San Jose State University's Illustration and Animation program. Her muses are a miniature short-haired Dachshund and a small human boy. She lives in Fremont, California.