What’s the most memorable thing that has happened at your library? Here is mine. My pig pooped in the library! I’m ready for your stories!

It was a cold, snowy night on Main Street in Morning Sun, Iowa. Most of the Christmas Walk events were canceled because it was just too cold. But two sites were open. The firehouse was cooking up some tummy-warming supper to fill the bowls, and raise some money for the community, and the library was filling up. The librarians at Mellinger Memorial Library, who seem to know each and every person with a library card by name, had invited me to visit and talk about my newest children’s book, A Hog Ate My Homework! And, yes, they invited my pet pig, Frankie, to join us too.

The drama began shortly after the children unraveled themselves from the multiple layers of warm clothing—hats, gloves, scarves, heavy jackets, sweaters, and boots. They took their seats, most parents and grandparents in the back, most children on the floor in front to hear the story. The story is about a boy who goes back to the basics himself to learn about what life is really like on a farm. He learns about how much work it takes to feed the world, about neighbors helping neighbors without having to be asked, and about why you shouldn’t play with the pigs!

At the end of the story, I put in a cd with the song Who Let The Hogs Out? and opened a broom closet door to let Frankie, the pet pot-bellied pig, come out and surprise the children. But I was the one about to get the surprise! A couple of children yelled out “eeeeeeew!” It was then that I noticed Frankie’s little hooves were tracking in something that belongs more in a barnyard than in a library! Frankie had spent the day at the elementary school in Wapello, and now after an afternoon in her crate, she had decided now was the time to — well, honestly and simply put—poop in the library!

Embarrassed, I quickly grabbed some paper towels as I apologized to the guests. But as soon as the hooves were cleaned, the children swarmed around and began having an experience that I am sure will last a long time. It was then that I realized that these are the moments in life to cherish. I said to the small crowd, “Well, one thing is for sure—you’ll never forget the time the pig pooped in your library!” They nodded, smiled and clapped. And we enjoyed sharing this moment together.