Old Long Snout: The Invisible Pig by Peni Clark is the story of an invisible pig. Nellie may be shy and quiet, but her imagination is wonderfully loud and vivid. She has the strangest of friends – a magical pig called Old Long Snout who lives in her attic. He’s invisible to all but Nellie, but they have the best fun, laughing and dancing, and having adventures every day. When Nellie decides to enter Old Long Snout in a pet parade, she has one problem – no one else can see him. Nellie must dig deep and find the courage to make something truly amazing happen.

Old Long Snout by Peni Clark is a wonderfully heartwarming tale with lovely illustrations by Penny Weber. It’s a story of imaginary friends, but more than that, it’s about having the courage to believe in yourself, friendship, and empathy. It teaches young readers to find their voices and to stand tall when all seems lost. Peni has created some lovely characters, especially Nellie, and readers will find it easy to relate to her, some more than others. It may be about empowering girls, but anyone can learn from this story, no matter who they are. At the end of the book are some questions on the story to help readers be sure they’ve understood it, and a small discussion on imaginary friends. Just about every child has one, and they are an important part of their development and learning, and they can often be the best friend a child has. To finish, a song about Old Long Snout is included, along with a QR code to access it – great fun for all kids and a wonderful way to bring the message home. This is an enjoyable story and all kids will enjoy reading it, especially girls.