The Pig Scrolls facts for kids
Cover of the first UK hardcover edition of The Pig Scrolls
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| Author | Paul Shipton |
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| Cover artist | Sally Taylor |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Comedy/adventure |
| Publisher | Puffin |
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Publication date
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25 March 2004 |
| Media type | Hardback & Paperback |
| ISBN | 0-14-138021-7 |
| Followed by | The Pig Who Saved the World |
The Pig Scrolls (2004) is a super fun adventure book by Paul Shipton. It's about a talking pig named Gryllus who has to save the world! The story takes place in Ancient Greece, and it's full of funny moments and references to old Greek myths. You'll meet famous Greek gods, some smaller gods, a young Homer, and Sibyl, who is learning to be a prophetess at the temple of Apollo in Delphi.
The Story of Gryllus
The adventure begins when all the powerful Olympian gods suddenly disappear! Sibyl, a young prophetess, has a special vision. In this vision, the sun god Apollo tells her she must find "the talking pig."
Sibyl quickly sets off to find this mysterious pig, Gryllus. She first finds him at an auction and buys him. But Gryllus runs away! He ends up at Big Stavros's Kebab bar, where he's forced to entertain customers. Sibyl finds him there and takes him back.
Together, they head to the famous temple at Delphi. Apollo tells Sibyl and Gryllus that they need to find a goatherd boy. This boy lives high up on a mountain.
When Sibyl and Gryllus finally find the goatherd, they get a big surprise. The goatherd is actually Zeus, the king of the gods! With Zeus, they travel back to Apollo's temple in Delphi. This is where Gryllus, the talking pig, must use all his courage to save the entire world from being destroyed!
How the Idea Began
The author, Paul Shipton, shared how he got the idea for The Pig Scrolls. He was rereading Homer's Odyssey, an ancient Greek epic poem. He became more interested in the characters who weren't the main heroes.
Working on the book let him visit a world he loves: ancient mythology and history. He also joked that to research Gryllus properly, he had to eat "a huge number of pies!"
Gryllus's Past
Gryllus was once part of Captain Odysseus's famous crew. But the enchantress Circe turned him into a pig. Gryllus was enjoying his quiet life in the woods. However, local hunters soon captured him when they realized he could talk.
Sibyl, the junior prophetess, "rescues" him. She tells Gryllus about her vision of the world ending. Gryllus thinks she's a bit crazy and escapes. So, Sibyl has to kidnap him to continue their quest!
On their journey to Delphi, they meet many strange characters. They encounter monsters, gods, a weird goatherd, and even a scientist. This scientist has invented an amazing machine called the Atomos Device. Gryllus soon realizes that the fate of the whole universe rests on his own trotters.
More Adventures
The Pig Scrolls has a sequel! It's called The Pig Who Saved the World. This second book won a Nestle Bronze Award in the UK, which is a great achievement!
The Movie Version
On April 8, 2010, a website called Pajiba.com reported some exciting news. DreamWorks Animation was working on an animated movie based on The Pig Scrolls!
Barry Sonnenfeld was set to develop the film as a possible director. Kirk DeMicco wrote the most recent version of the script. DreamWorks Animation also bought the rights for the book's sequel.
