The Freddy the Pig series of children's novels by Walter R. Brooks was one of the first reasons I got hooked on reading. They were first published between 1927 and 1958, but it was in the '80s that I tore through all 26 books in the primary grades. As an animal lover, I was delighted by the adventures and personalities of Freddy, Jinx the cat, Charles the rooster, Mrs. Wiggins the cow and so many more. Simon the rat is one of the great all-time villains if you ask me. Incidentally, Walter R. Brooks also created Mr. Ed the horse of TV fame.
 

I'm not alone in my adoration of Freddy. The Friends of Freddy was founded in 1984. They hold biennial conventions, publish a quarterly newsletter, and work to ensure the Freddy books will be available for generations to come. SJPL is great place to start delving into the world of Freddy and his friends (and in fact was for me when I was a kid!).