Siggy Loves Sausages - Brian Frederick - ★★★.½
AUTHOR: Brian Frederick
ILLUSTRATOR: Vivien Sárkány
GENRE: Children's Picture Book
PUBLICATION DATE: November 27, 2025
RATING: 3.5 stars.
In a Nutshell: A picture book about a little dachshund trying to help someone without getting tempted by distractions. A quirky story matched by equally quirky art. Has unexpected fantasy additions, which could go either way. The title doesn’t represent the plot accurately. Going in with the right expectations will make this an enjoyable story for dog-loving kids.
Plot Preview:
Siggy the dachshund lives with Phyllis and her family in a small hamlet called Hope in Somerset, England. Siggy knows all the villagers and they know him too. Siggy even talks to all the villagers, but only a few can understand him back. One day, Siggy tries to rescue a flyaway birthday gift, but there are so many distractions along the way! Will he be successful in retrieving it without losing his focus?
The story is written in Siggy’s third-person perspective.
Just a few days back, I read the free prequel that introduces Siggy and Phyllis. “When Siggy Met Phyllis” was such a heartwarming read that I was excited to read this new story. My expectations were mostly met, but not in the way I imagined.
Siggy is just as charming in this book. And just as enthusiastic. His chase after the runaway gift is entertaining to read. The picture book includes a cute map at the start, so we can keep track of Siggy as he rushes around the village on his quest. I think this is the first time ever I have seen a picture book with such a detailed map.
Phyllis is also present in the story but in a very limited role. However, there are many other nice characters, though our canine champ is the only fellow with the most page space. I didn’t expect an Indian connection to this book; it was a delight to discover that one key character is Indian, and through them, we get a glimpse of a teeny part of our culture. Loved it!
It is funny how Siggy talks to all the residents of the village, even though most of them cannot understand his barks. But there is a certain magical realism incorporated in this regard: two of the residents can actually understand him because they were “a little bit magical too.” I wasn’t a big fan of this inclusion because it felt like a random add-on. There is another magical character in the story, but at least there’s a justification for why they are magical, even though their appearance in the plot was equally unexpected. While children’s books often benefit with the addition of magic, the fantastical elements of this story somehow reduced its impact as they came out of nowhere. Of course, kids do enjoy magical stuff, so I am hoping they won't be as grumpy about the unexpected fantastical splash in an otherwise-realistic tale.
The title doesn’t indicate the story well. It made me feel like the book would be about a sausage dog’s passion for sausages, which creates a somewhat comic anticipation. While sausages do make an appearance, they are more like a side dish than the main course of this plot. The story itself is quite good, so no complaints in that regard. But I do wish the title had been more representative of the story. Something like ‘Siggy Saves the Day!’ or ‘Siggy to the Rescue!’ would have worked better.
The textual content has a good mix of simple and challenging vocabulary. There are many sound words and action words to make this a fun option at readaloud sessions. Do note that the pages are somewhat text-intensive. Though the text never overpowers the page and there is enough spacing and clear formatting to help independent readers enjoy the book without hurdles, it still makes the book lengthier than is standard for this age group.
The illustrations are just as whimsical as they were in the prequel. The art style is very unusual, almost dream-like. I don’t know what it is called but I haven’t seen it used in picture books before. It is quite a treat to the eyes. The pastel colouring supports the style well.
Overall, while the story didn’t exactly go the way I thought it would, it is still a good story with lots of happiness and heart. I am sure children will fall in love with Siggy.
Recommended, The official target audience for this is 4-8 years, but it might be a bit too text-heavy as a bedtime read for the younger set.
3.5 stars, rounding up wherever applicable for the doggie and the art.
My thanks to Iddy Biddy Book Tours, Tiny Tree Books, and author Brian Frederick for a complimentary copy of 'Siggy Loves Sausages', and for allowing me to be a part of this blog tour. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
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Blurb:
Siggy to the Rescue!
A little dachshund ensues on a chase of something sparkly floating through the sky, vowing to return it to its rightful owner. Follow Siggy as he dashes through the village, saying hello to his friends and neighbors, but staying focused on the task at hand. Will Siggy be able to keep his promise?
Join Siggy, in a joyful, rollicking tale with vibrant illustrations, sharing in the happiness and beauty of everyday life. Young children will enjoy the escapades of sweet little Siggy while learning lessons about keeping promises and unexpected rewards.
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Author Brian Frederick:
Children’s book author Brian Frederick was an insatiable reader from an early age, becoming particularly inspired by the Narnia books. After that, he always wanted to be a writer and began creating his own fictional worlds, winning praise and awards for his early stories.
Brian grew up in Northern Ireland, during “the Troubles” and went to a posh school where CS Lewis was once a pupil, and Samuel Beckett briefly taught. A young Brian made the sports page headlines as a champion swimmer and he admits he
may have been more dedicated to training than to his studies at times.
After school, a legal career beckoned and he pursued it, but it turns out that Brian likes being a writer more than being a lawyer. “I much prefer writing stories to writing writs,” he quips.
WHAT DO I CARE ABOUT?
I don’t know if stories for children can change the world, but I hope they can make it a little better – certainly for my readers. I hope I can bring a little more joy into the world, and a little more truth and kindness. I do care that these and other important things are often in short supply when they needn’t be. Maybe we can change that together…
Connect with him on:
Website: https://brianfrederickauthor.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siggysausage/
X/Twitter: https://x.com/BrianFredAuthor
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Check out this book:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240938555-siggy-loves-sausagesPurchase from:
Bookshop.org: https://bit.ly/4pW6rnQ
Amazon USA: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0722356218/
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This has been a stop on the #SiggyLovesSausages blog tour conducted by Iddy Biddy Book Tours (@iddybiddybooktours) Thanks for stopping by!
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