Description
About the story
It’s the hottest day of the year. The ducks and geese are cooling off in the pond, but Neligan’s pig is stuck on the bank, getting hotter and hotter. Pigs don’t swim… do they? Then – SPLASH! In goes Pig, and the whole farm comes running to see. When Farmer Neligan arrives, he has a big decision to make! Martin Waddell and Jill Barton’s funny, noisy story is perfect for joining in and acting out.
What’s inside
- The Pig in the Pond Picture Book – included in Little, optional in Classic and Wooden Characters.
- Little: Pig Hand Puppet and Farmer Hand Puppet – soft, floppy Pig ready to jump in the pond, and Farmer Neligan to follow him in.
- Classic: Pig Hand Puppet and Farmer Hand Puppet, plus Cow, Sheep, Goat, Hen, Goose, Cat & Border Collie Finger Puppets – the whole farmyard for retelling the story.
- Wooden Characters: Farmer, Pig, Border Collie, Cow, Hen, Goose, Sheep, Cat & Goat – chunky painted wooden figures for small-world play, story retelling and sequencing.
Ways to play
- Read the story, then act it out – who will jump in next?
- Shout out the noises together: “Quack! Honk! SPLASH!”
- Make a pond with a blue blanket or a tray of water and dip the animals in.
- Talk about the weather – what do you do to cool down on a hot day?
Learning through play (Aistear)
- Communicating – animal sounds, repetition, retelling and new farm vocabulary.
- Exploring & Thinking – sequencing the story, counting the animals and predicting what happens next.
- Well-being – fine motor skills with hand and finger puppets; lots of laughter.
- Identity & Belonging – taking turns and playing different roles together.
Good to know
- Best for ages 3–6. Supervise younger children.
- Bag: Fairtrade organic cotton – spot clean or cool gentle wash. Puppets: surface wash only. Wooden characters: wipe clean with a damp cloth.
- The StorySack bag is not a toy. Please supervise play and keep the drawstring bag away from babies and young children.
