Pig is very happy living on her farm with mud puddles to roll in and apples to crunch on. One day the skies darken and it begins to rain,
and rain, and….rain!
At first Pig is quite content curled up in her pen, but when she wakes there is even more rain, and the wind is blowing things over.
Her farmer comes to get her and put her inside the shed which is higher than her pen. Unfortunately it isn’t high enough! Pig decides to find a better place to wait out the storm. She swims through swirling, muddy, water, inside then outside, then inside again. She finally finds a soggy place above the water and gets a well earned rest.
Pig doesn’t know how far she has swum, but when a smiling man finds her inside a bedroom after the storm, he is very surprised indeed.
Based on a real pig that earned the name Lucky after its brave survival swimming feat during Cyclone Gabrielle in NZ 2023.
Lucky now lives with the author and her family after they found her in their flooded home. After losing so much, this small brave pig brought smiles to all, and a wonderful story to tell. Cyclone Gabrielle was one of New Zealand’s worst weather events, causing a National State of Emergency – only the 3rd ever in NZ history.
The author’s family were among many to lose everything to the flooding and she struggled to find any stories that might help her children. She is hoping that The Lucky Little Pig may do that for others if needed in the future.
Positivity is woven into Pig’s story as she talks herself through her mission to find a safe place, and then thinks of the positives before she is found. She too knows she is lucky and suits her new name.
The story of Lucky the Little Pig softens a traumatic situation for both animals and people, whilst Deborah Hinde’s gorgeous illustrations portray the event in an authentic manner.
There is a page in the rear of the book dedicated to coping mechanisms after trauma, and caring for yourself and loved ones. These can be in simple every day ways or through the professional services listed.
Author – Stacey Smith
Illustrator – Deborah Hinde
Picture Book
(2024, Aotearoa New Zealand, National State of Emergency, Storm, Cyclone, Flooding, Disaster, Animals, Pig, Positivity, Resilience, Gratitude, Surprise, Dealing with Trauma, Determination, Action, Courage)