View source for Handsome Hog by Mwenye Hadithi and Adrienne Kennaway

{{infobox2
|title=Handsome Hog
|author=Mwenye Hadithi and Adrienne Kennaway
|reviewer=Keith Dudhnath
|genre=For Sharing
|summary=The story of how the warthog got his warts. Whilst ''Handsome Hog'' is a fine book in its own rights, it's impossible to escape the comparisons with Kipling's wonderful [[Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling|Just So Stories]].
|rating=3.5
|buy=Maybe
|borrow=Yes
|pages=32
|publisher=Hodder Children's Books
|date=June 2009
|isbn=978-0340970348
|aznuk=0340970359
|aznus=0340970340
|cover=0340970359
}}
Handsome Hog is vain, selfish and rude. He won't talk to any animal that isn't as good-looking as him. When Prickly Porcupine digs a hole for himself, Handsome Hog decides to steal it, so as to avoid getting his tusks muddy. When Lion, Cheetah and Wild Dog take exception to Handsome Hog's snide comments, it looks like it'll all end in tears. ...Or warts.

''Handsome Hog'' has lots of promise, but the problem is that it's just so... well, [[Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling|Just So]]. Mwenye Hadithi (real name: Bruce Hobson) spins an interesting yarn, but his tale of how the warthog got his warts just makes you want to dig out your old battered copy of Kipling. His retellings of folk tales are the definitive versions, and you're immediately on the back foot if you try to compete with that.

Judged strictly on its own merits, there's lots to enjoy in ''Handsome Hog''. There's a strong central character getting his comeuppance. There's action, adventure, and a nice chunk of slapstick humour. Adrienne Kennaway's illustrations give a sumptuous view of the African plain and its inhabitants (although some of the scenes of the animals laughing seem a bit too cartoony). Everything flows nicely, and it's a pleasant read. But - and you can't get away from it - it's not Kipling.

If you can do what I couldn't, and get past that fact, then you'll enjoy ''Handsome Hog''. My thanks to the publishers for sending it to Bookbag.

[[Marvin's Funny Dance by Sarah McConnell]] is a fun tale of African animals. [[ROAR! by Margaret Mayo and Alex Ayliffe]] is lots of fun too. For a tale of comeuppance with a slightly different twist, check out [[That's Not Funny by Adrian Johnson]]. [[Cross Crocodile by Mwenye Hadithi and Adrienne Kennaway|Cross Crocodile]], the next book in the series, strikes a much better tone.  You might also like [[The Hog, the Shrew and the Hullabaloo (A Harry and Lil Story) by Julia Copus and Eunyoung Seo]].

{{amazontext|amazon=0340970359}}
{{amazonUStext|amazon=0340970340}}

{{commenthead}}
[[Category:Mwenye Hadithi]]
[[Category:Adrienne Kennaway]]