Pearly and Pig and the Great Hairy Beast; Sue Whiting, illustrated by Rebecca Crane

Ten-year-old Pearly Woe is desperate to become a member of The Adventurologists’ Guild. The guild, founded by Grandpa Woe, is made up of a top-secret group of adventurers and Pearly is determined to be the next member of her family to join its ranks. Unfortunately, Pearly’s training is not going well and she constantly worries that she will not be good enough.

Worrying is something that comes naturally to Pearly and when her parents go missing and her pet pig is pig-napped she has two very big things to worry about. With no one else to help, Pearly is accidentally thrust into the adventure of a lifetime when she stows away on a ship heading towards Antarctica with a cruel villainess at its helm. With danger lurking everywhere and Emmeline Wood up to no good, can Pearly save the day…

Pearly and Pig and the Great Hairy Beast is an exciting adventure story that whisks readers away to the cold climes of Antarctica on a thrilling and dangerous rescue mission that is nothing like it first appears. Quickly surrounded by peril and where one wrong move could have dire consequences, Pearly is going to need every bit of courage and bravery she can muster if she is going to stop a dangerous villain who is famous for all the wrong reasons, save the Great Hairy Beast, save her parents and save another very unexpected stowaway.

Pig and Pearly are not your regular adventuring duo. When I think of famous pigs in children’s stories the likes of Piglet (Winnie the Pooh) and Wilbur (Charlotte’s Web) spring to mind and neither of whom can I imagine getting up to the things that Sue Whiting’s heroic Pig does. Pig is brave, bold and goes to where no pig has gone before…the snow and ice of the Antarctic is about as far from a mud bath as one pig could get. Pearly, who has the rare gift of being able to speak multiple languages including the ability to communicate with animals, is keen to adventure but is beset by worries and anxieties, often fearing the worst and struggling to make decisions. With a snout for sniffing out the truth, Pig helps to keep Pearly calm and focused on what she needs to do and together they make a rather splendid, if somewhat unusual, team.

Fast-paced and with plenty of pig-themed jokes and puns this first in a new series offer readers a relatable young protagonist, a delightful and quirky sidekick, and deals with relevant themes of anxiety, worrying and catastrophising. Children who fancy joining The Adventurologists’ Guild can see if they have what it takes by checking out the rules, guidelines and survival tips at the end of the story.

With huge thanks to Walker Books for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review.

Recommended for 7+.