Jillian Jiggs: questions to ask and activities to try
Jillian Jiggs, Jillian Jiggs, it looks like your room has been lived in by pigs! A rhyming Canadian favourite about imaginative play and the tidying that always comes after.
What age is Jillian Jiggs for?
Jillian Jiggs is best for ages 3–7.
Jillian Jiggs (Phoebe Gilman)
- Age
- 3-7
- Best for
- Tidying up, imaginative play, and getting distracted
Only 50pJillian Jiggs activity sheet3 printable pages: questions to talk about, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the grown-up. Instant PDF.
Just want the questions? Get the free question card ↓
Join in with the ’Jillian Jiggs’ refrain. Afterwards, talk about why tidying up is hard when there are better things to do.
Is this book right for your child?
- Age
- 3–7 (nursery to Year 2)
- What they'll enjoy
- Jillian Jiggs, Jillian Jiggs, it looks like your room has been lived in by pigs! A rhyming Canadian favourite about imaginative play and the tidying that always comes after.
- Helps with
- Tidying up, imaginative play, and getting distracted
- Buy or borrow?
- Borrow it from the library first if you can. If your child asks for it again and again, it’s one worth owning, and the questions and activities on this page work best with the book open next to you.
What it helps with
- Tidying up
- Getting distracted
- Dress-up and imaginative play
- Keeping promises
Comprehension and discussion questions for Jillian Jiggs
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “What did Jillian’s mother ask her to do?”
- “Why did she keep getting distracted?”
- “What games did she and her friends play?”
- “Did she keep her promise in the end?”
- “What makes tidying up hard for you?”
- “How could tidying be more fun?”
For the full list of questions and more, download the PDF below.
Print these questions: free question card for Jillian Jiggs
All 6 questions for Jillian Jiggs on one printable page, each marked with the reading skill it practises. Enter your email and download it straight away.
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5-minute activities to try together
Tidy race
Set a timer and race to tidy one area, then play dress-up as a reward.
Dress-up box
Make a dress-up box from old clothes and scarves, and invent characters like Jillian.
Jillian Jiggs activity sheet: printable worksheet and questions
All the questions and activities above on a ready-to-print activity sheet: questions tagged by reading skill with space to answer, a drawing and writing page with a self-check, and notes for the adult with curriculum links and a 20-minute session plan. Pay by card, PayPal or Payhip and download straight away.
- Page 1, talk about it: questions about the story, each tagged with the reading skill it practises, with space to answer or tick
- Page 2, my favourite part: a drawing box, a sentence starter and a “how did I do?” self-check
- Page 3, notes for the adult: curriculum links, a 20-minute session plan, extension activities, and support and challenge ideas
- Read it togetherEnjoy the story first.
- Ask 2 or 3 questionsFrom the list above, while everyone is calm.
- Print the activity sheetAn activity sheet with questions, a drawing page and notes for you.
Communication bundle15 activity sheets for books on the same themeThe 15 books:I Talk Like a RiverAll Join InThe Animal BoogieBilly's BucketBrown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?Counting with Tiny CatDear ZooDig Dig DiggingDinosaur Dig!Dinosaur Roar!DogsDown by the StationDown the Back of the ChairDriving My TractorEach Peach Pear Plum£4.99 3 sheets for £1.25Jillian Jiggs + I Talk Like a River + All Join InThe 3 books:Jillian JiggsI Talk Like a RiverAll Join In£1.25 Pick your own books: build a bundle with this one, up to 15% off →
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Use it as a lesson plan
Children can listen to Jillian Jiggs, answer questions about it and give a reason for their ideas, and talk about tidying up.
A 20-minute session for ages 3–7 (nursery to Year 2), for a class, a small group or one child at home.
- Warm up (2 minutes). Show the cover and read the title. Ask: “What do you think this story will be about?”
- Read aloud (6 minutes). Read it all the way through. Tip: Join in with the ’Jillian Jiggs’ refrain. Afterwards, talk about why tidying up is hard when there are better things to do.
- Talk about it (4 minutes). Pick two or three of the comprehension and discussion questions above. “What did Jillian’s mother ask her to do?” works well to start.
- Activity (6 minutes). Do Tidy race. Set a timer and race to tidy one area, then play dress-up as a reward. Children who finish early can try Dress-up box.
- Wrap up (2 minutes). Ask each child for one thing they will remember from the story, and why.
Want to go further? The Jillian Jiggs activity sheet has these questions with space to answer, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the adult.
If your child liked this, try
All Join In (Quentin Blake)
- Best for
- Joining in, making noise together, and having fun with words
- Age
- 3-7
The Café at the Edge of the Woods (Mikey Please)
- Best for
- A spooky-funny rhyming tale about a strange café
- Age
- 3-7
Cops and Robbers (Janet and Allan Ahlberg)
- Best for
- A rhyming chase, and good triumphing over naughty
- Age
- 3-7
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 25 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.