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A funny, heartfelt Australian tale celebrates the joy, humour and imagination of the stories grandparents and parents hand down to the next generation.
Grandma, There's a Pig in My Room!, written by Gary Eck, Karen Eck and Alice Eck and illustrated by Kim McMahon, tells the story of young Jazz, who is being babysat by her grandmother, Grandma Alice.
The book celebrates grandparents and parents as the family storytellers: the ones who remember the funny, surprising and everyday moments, and who keep our most treasured stories alive by sharing them with the children in their lives.
When Grandma tells Jazz a bedtime story about her own childhood, growing up in the tiny town of Grevillia in northern New South Wales, the story takes on a life of its own. As Grandma drifts off mid-story, Jazz, who has never before heard the sound of snoring, wakes convinced there is a pig in her room.
"The story is based on true-ish events," said Gary, an award-winning Sydney-based comedian, filmmaker and author. It is his third children's picture book, following Wake Up Sleepyhead and The Day the Moon Came to Stay.
Gary co-created the hit global children's animated series Vegesaurs, which is now in its fifth season on ABC TV and screens in more than 70 countries. A three-time Logie nominee, the series is the second most popular show on BBC's CBeebies, behind Bluey. Gary also writes for the series and directs episodes.
"Grandma Alice really did come to babysit Jazz and fall asleep while telling her own childhood tale of travelling to school. The pig is where the story starts, but it's not long before more creature noises start to fill the room," Gary said. "And perhaps one of the unexpected stars of the book is Cleo, Jazz's real-life cat, who quietly steals the show.
"We were also really proud to have every illustration in the book created by a real, wonderfully talented illustrator, Kim McMahon," added Gary. "In a world where so much is generated at the click of a button, there is something special about knowing a person sat down and drew every page."
According to Karen, every grandparent has a story worth telling. "This book is really an invitation for grandparents to sit down with their grandchildren and share their own childhoods," she said.
Alice, 91, is a first-time author and a uniquely colourful character in real life, rarely seen without a stylish hat. Her red and white polka-dot favourite made its way straight into the book, becoming a signature part of Grandma's look.
"I have always loved telling and drawing stories and I hope this book encourages young people to be creative," Alice said. "One of my favourite memories is riding my horse Flicker to school when I was six years old, with our cattle dog Flash running along beside us the whole way. I loved sharing that memory in this book, and I hope it reminds other grandparents that their own small memories are worth telling too."
The authors hope the book will spark bedtime conversations and family storytelling sessions, with children asking the grown-ups they love one simple question: what was it like when you were little?
The book is available now on Amazon and selected bookstores.
