“Think Shaun the Sheep meets Roald Dahl.”

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I think this beautiful review from Chris Saliba of North Melbourne Books is my favourite to date! Thank you Chris!

Two pigs masquerade as dogs, with hilarious results.

Pongo and Stink are two pigs living in the barn at Farmer Nic’s. Life is pretty good, despite the occasional midnight visit from a menacing fox. But Pongo aspires to more. When she sees Farmer Nic’s dog Rollo living it up at the farmhouse, enjoying affectionate pats and scones with jam and cream, she starts to get ideas. She suggests to her good friend Stink that they dress up as dogs. Stink is cautious, and he takes some persuading, but soon enough they find themselves at Mr Waleed’s costume shop, being fitted out. All goes to plan. Farmer Nic is fooled by the costumes and the pigs enjoy all the delights that the farmhouse has to offer. Until that is they are asked to perform real dog tasks, like rounding up sheep.

Lisa Nicol’s piggy adventure is a zany romp full of delightful improbabilities, where costume sellers speak pig and a farmer doesn’t recognise his own animals wearing fluffy zip up suits. But the story has such a wonderful energy that the reader is happily taken along for the ride. Think Shaun the Sheep meets Roald Dahl. With delightful illustrations by Karen Blair. Warmly recommended!

Ages 6-10.

The Adventures of Pongo and Stink, by Lisa Nicol. Published by Penguin. $19.99
Review by Chris Saliba

 

 

It’s official! The Adventures of Pongo and Stink is “a very funny story”.

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The reviews are rolling in for those pigs and people seem as delighted by them as I am. (The Fox has been out and about causing all sorts of mischief but more about that another day.) I was excited to see they made it into The Guardian’s pick of  best Christmas gift ideas. It is a perfect gift. It’s hardback and the designer Tony Palmer did such a beautiful job. And of course Karen Blair’s illustrations are divine.

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Megan Daley says lovely stuff about ‘The Adventures of Pongo and Stink’

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The Adventures of Pongo & Stink

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It’s been a while between pigs, I mean books! So I’m super excited to announce I have a new JF novel – The Adventures of Pongo & Stink – coming out in November with Penguin Random House. The Adventures of Pongo & Stink is a hilarious tale (if I do say so myself) about two fed up farm pigs who set off on an audacious adventure to live a life of luxury by donning zip-up suits and impersonating dogs. Exploring the difficulties of trying to be someone you’re not and the consolatory power of true friendship, it’s an uproariously funny and emotionally satisfying novel for young readers aged 6-10. With insanely gorgeous illustrations by Karen Blair, I don’t reckon you stand a chance of not falling in love with these audacious sweet piggies. I mean, who can resist a pig in a dog-suit…

‘What on Earth’ heads to China…

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Safe travels ‘What on Earth Institute of Wonder’ I hope there’s a tonne of eyes to greet you. A tonne of tiny hands to hold you. And a tonne of hearts to love you.

It gives me such a great thrill to imagine kids in China reading my books. They absolutely loved Dr Boogaloo and Vincent will arrive there soon.

In the wise words of brilliant children’s writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce (as written on my office ( shed) wall….)

Beyond the Point of Space…

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Alexander, your thank you is better than any other thank you! Just finished 5 weeks of writer’s residencies at Blackett & Braddock Public Schools. Their imaginations were rocket-fuelled and it is always a privilege to ride with them for a while “beyond the point of space”. Thanks again Westwords for the opportunity to let our minds collide. It was genuinely thrilling. p.s Lauren your pickle panda – a panda who lives in a pickle jar – was genius!

“…a philosophical-poetic fairy tale about family and friendship…” 

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A lovely German review by Catherine Mahrenholtz about Vincent! Apologies for the dodgy google translation…..

“This novel is often reminiscent of Roald Dahl’s children’s books in its whimsical nature, but Lisa Nicol treats her characters in a much more warm-hearted way – everyone wants to book a short break at “The Grand” immediately. “Vincent and the Greatest Hotel in the World” is a philosophical-poetic fairy tale about family and friendship for children aged 10 and over.”

https://www.ndr.de/kultur/buch/Vincent-und-das-grossartigste-Hotel-der-Welt-ein-poetisches-Maerchen,vincentunddashotel100.html

 

 

SPOT THE KOMBI – THIS WEEKEND! STREETS OF SYDNEY!

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It’s on!

This Weekend.

Planning to head around the city’s south on Saturday and inner-city and east on Sunday…

Free stickers of elephant’s bottoms and book marks if you catch us shooting the breeze by the side of the road or in a park somewhere!!

  • Honk!
  • Crikey!
 

SPOT THE KOMBI COMPETITION

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Have you ever wanted to own a stuffed kakapo? If the answer is yes you better keep your eyes peeled round the streets of Sydney this November because I’m running a competition.

All you gotta do is spot the Kombi, take a pic, post it to instagram with the hashtag #thewhatonearthinstituteofwonder and tag me as well! @liasnicolauthor.

Basically, launching a book during a lockdown was impossible so I thought I’d do something a little different to send The What On Earth Institute of Wonder out into the world. 

Stay tuned for more details in the next few days about exactly where and when you can spot the Kombi!

All the lovely reviews What on Earth has been getting will be posted soon too!