“You are pigs.”
A refreshing declaration that challenges old stereotypes

The Piggot family consists of Mr. Piggot, Mrs. Piggot, and two sons.
Mr. Piggott, who works at a “very important company,” and his two sons, who attend a “very important school,” do nothing at home.
He always opens his mouth wide and asks his wife and mother to hurry up and give him food, and he just lies on the sofa.
Mrs. Piggott also works, but her work is not considered very important to her family, so all the housework is done by her, both before and after work.
Finally, Mrs. Piggot, unable to bear it any longer, leaves home, leaving behind a note.

For a long time, women were expected to do all the housework.
Housework has been left to all the women of the world, thinking that it is naturally women's work.
When 『Pig Book』 was published in Korea, it received attention as a work that questioned such gender stereotypes.
Today, 20 years after the book was introduced, men's participation in housework has increased, but the reality is that there is still a large gap.
According to the 'Time Use Survey' published by Statistics Korea in 2019, while women spend 3 hours and 10 minutes on housework on weekdays, men spend only 48 minutes.
The problematic issues raised in 『Pig Book』 still have many implications for our society.

To make everyone a happy family

Mrs. Piggott is no longer at home.
My wife and mother, who always did housework as a matter of course, disappeared.
Mr. Piggot and his two sons, who don't know how to do anything, are confused.
They try to cook for themselves, but the kitchen is a mess and the food tastes terrible.
When Mrs. Piggot, who had been looking after the house like a shadow, disappears, no one cleans or does laundry, and the house becomes as messy as a pigsty.
Plus, Mr. Piggot and the kids literally turn into pigs! Anthony Browne humorously portrays the men's transformation into pigs and their homes becoming pig pens.
The pig motifs hidden throughout the screen, such as the doorknob that has turned into a pig, the face in the photo that has turned into a pig, and the button in the shape of a pig's nostril, lighten the weight of the story and bring laughter.
Fans of Anthony Browne will recognize the floral patterns that appear in "Our Mother" and the motifs of famous paintings hidden throughout the scenes, images that permeate the author's work.


Eventually, the three men plead with Mrs. Piggot.
“Please, come back!” Mr. Piggot and the children now begin to do the housework together.
Washing dishes, making the bed, ironing, cooking… I realized that these were all things that had to be done as a natural part of the community called family.
The picture book ends with Mrs. Piggot repairing her car.
The car's license plate is SGIP 321, or PIGS 123 when reversed.
Will the Piggot family have a happy ending? Will Mrs. Piggot decide to stay home? Anthony Browne's witty conclusion leaves readers with something to ponder until the very end.
The Pig Book tells us that all members must work hard to create a happy family, otherwise they are no different from pigs.