Pip the Piglet is the enthusiastic, impulsive, completely irrepressible young piglet who joined the Veronica the Clever Cow series in Book 4 — and quickly became one of the most-loved characters in the entire cast. Pip is small. Pip is bouncy. Pip is absolutely delighted about absolutely everything. There has never been a single moment in any Veronica book where Pip the Piglet was not having a wonderful time.

In every book since his arrival, Pip the Piglet has been the burst of pure energy that the farm did not know it needed. He is the friend who runs into every situation grinning, asks no preliminary questions, and somehow always ends up exactly where the fun is.

Who Pip the Piglet Really Is

Pip the Piglet first appears in Book 4, Veronica and the Wishing Well, alongside Millie the mouse. The two of them arrived together — and where Millie is small, careful, and observant, Pip is loud, bouncy, and enthusiastic. The pairing is brilliant. They balance each other completely.

British/Australian author Jaz Hoy describes Pip the Piglet as “the character who reminds us why being a child is so wonderful in the first place. He has not yet learned to be cautious, and he sees no reason to start now.” Pip is impulsive. Pip is curious. Pip wants to be involved in everything immediately. Pip is, in short, the most six-year-old character in the books — which is exactly what makes him so beloved by six year olds.

He has been part of every book in the series since Book 4. Children meeting Pip the Piglet for the first time tend to laugh out loud within the first page he appears on. He has that effect on people.

4 Heartwarming Things to Know About Pip the Piglet

1. He Is the Newest Friend in the Cast

Pip the Piglet joined the Veronica books in Book 4, and his arrival changed the energy of the series considerably. The original five characters — Veronica, Otto, Liesel, Greta, and Seppi — are all calm, considered, gentle in their own ways. Pip is none of those things. Pip is the cheerful chaos at the centre of every spread he appears in. The arrival of a brand new young character was a real moment in the series, and parents who have read the books in order often comment on how naturally Pip fits in despite arriving four books late.

2. He Is Wildly Enthusiastic About Everything

There is nothing Pip the Piglet is not excited about. A new gate. An old gate. The weather. The lack of weather. The sea. The grass. The morning. The afternoon. The colour blue. Lunch. Pip’s defining trait is that he has not yet found anything in the world that he does not find brilliant. Children watching this kind of unfiltered enthusiasm in a story absorb something genuinely warm about being alive — and parents often find themselves wishing for a little more of that energy in their own lives.

3. He Is Impulsive — Acts First, Thinks Later

Pip the Piglet does not pause to consider his options. He sees something interesting and he goes. This causes mild havoc occasionally — and Veronica usually has to step in to suggest a slightly more considered approach — but it never causes real problems. The lesson sitting underneath Pip’s impulsiveness is gentle: jumping in is sometimes the right answer, especially when life is mostly good. Veronica’s cleverness and Pip’s enthusiasm balance each other perfectly across the books.

4. He Has Become One of the Most-Loved Characters Quickly

Despite only joining the series in Book 4, Pip the Piglet is now one of the most popular characters in the entire cast. The Pip colouring page is downloaded almost as often as Veronica’s own page. Children write in asking when the next Pip book is coming. He arrived as the new character and has become, in the space of three books, an absolute favourite. That kind of fast affection is rare, and it tells you something about how well Pip works on the page.

Where to Meet Pip the Piglet — A Book by Book Guide

Pip the Piglet appears in Books 4, 5, and 6 of the Veronica the Clever Cow series. He has been part of every book since his arrival.

• Book 4: Veronica and the Wishing Well — Pip’s first appearance, alongside Millie the mouse. He bounces straight into the story. veronicacow.com/go/well
• Book 5: Veronica and the Storm — Pip the Piglet is the one most thrilled by the rain and most reluctant to come inside. veronicacow.com/go/storm
• Book 6: Veronica Goes to the Beach — Pip experiences the sea for the first time and has, predictably, the loudest opinions about it. veronicacow.com/go/beach

To see the original cast Pip came into, you can also read the first three Veronica books:

• Book 1: Veronica’s Very Important Scratch — veronicacow.com/go/scratch
• Book 2: Veronica and The Noisy Bell — veronicacow.com/go/bell
• Book 3: Veronica’s Busy Day — veronicacow.com/go/busy

You can read more about why introducing a new character mid-series can revitalise a picture book run on the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators site.

Free Resources Featuring Pip the Piglet

The free library at veronicacow.com/join includes resources specifically for Pip the Piglet — a character fact card, a colouring page, and themed activity sheets that work both at home and in the classroom. The Pip colouring page is one of the most-printed in the library, and children almost always reach for the pinkest pink in the pencil case when it is time to colour him in.

Premium Teacher members can unlock the full Pip the Piglet lesson plan with comprehension questions and discussion prompts designed around his role as the enthusiastic, impulsive newcomer. It pairs particularly well with Book 4 or Book 6 in early years classrooms.

Browse the full character cast on the Meet the Characters page.

A Final Word on Pip the Piglet

Every series needs a Pip. Every farm needs a young, enthusiastic, impulsive character who just runs at life with both arms wide open. Children meeting Pip for the first time recognise him immediately — and parents reading the books aloud often find themselves wishing they could borrow a little of his cheerful approach to absolutely everything.

Three books. One bouncing piglet. Always wonderful to have around.

Veronica adores him. Otto is mildly bemused. Liesel thinks he is the best thing that ever happened to the farm.