The Marzipan Pig facts for kids
The Marzipan Pig (1986) is a special children's book written by Russell Hoban. It tells the surprising story of a little marzipan pig that gets lost behind a couch. This book explores how even small things can lead to big adventures and unexpected connections.
The Marzipan Pig Story
What Happens in the Story?
The little marzipan pig feels sad and forgotten when it falls behind the couch. Dust starts to cover him, but he still hopes someone will find him. Eventually, a mouse discovers the pig and eats him. But here's the magical part: some of the pig's feelings and personality get transferred to the mouse!
The mouse, now with a bit of the pig's heart, falls in love with a nearby grandfather clock. Every night, the mouse visits the clock. The clock, of course, cannot love the mouse back. One night, the mouse leaves and never returns. The clock suddenly feels very lonely and empty. It waits desperately for the mouse to come back, but she doesn't. When the clock is wound up next, its spring breaks.
Meanwhile, the mouse has been eaten by an owl! This owl then falls in love with a bright, lighted taxi meter. The owl starts dancing for rides, showing its affection. Where the mouse was eaten, a tiny pink flower grows. A bee drinks the nectar from this flower and then shows its love to a dying hibiscus flower.
A rather fancy white mouse thinks she would look better as a hibiscus. She uses the dead petals to make a dress. While trying to hang onto the plant, she falls into a postman's bag. The postman accidentally throws her back to the owl! Back at the house, she finds a package with a brand new marzipan pig inside. This new pig knows nothing about love or loneliness. The mouse eats this new marzipan pig and falls asleep.
The little boy who lives in the house opens the package, as it's his birthday. He finds the mouse, who quickly escapes back into its hole. The boy tells his mother he saw a mouse in a pink dress, but his mother never believes him. This time, the mouse is not eaten by the owl. Instead, she dances happily outside in the moonlight.
The Animated Movie
The story of The Marzipan Pig was also made into an animated television film. This movie was produced and directed by Michael Sporn. The animation was done by Tissa David, and the story was narrated by the famous actor Tim Curry. This half-hour special first showed on HBO on November 5, 1990. It was part of their HBO Storybook Musicals series, which brought many beloved children's stories to life.
