THE THREE LITTLE PIGS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Kellogg, Steven. 1997. THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN: 0064437795.

PLOT SUMMARY

In this variant of the classic story, Seraphina the pig has run a successful waffle business and decides to retire to The Gulf of Pasta.  She leaves her business and fortunes to her three children.  The three children each build a home:  one of straw, one of wood, and one of brick.  Much like in the classic version the wolf huffs and puffs and blows down the house of straw and the house of wood.  When he comes to the house of brick, he is unable to blow it down, and so he is ready to climb down the chimney.  Suddenly Seraphina returns and helps her children scorch the wolf with a waffle iron as he descends down the chimney.  The wolf decides to retire to the Gulf of Pasta, and the pigs continue to grow their waffle business.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Readers familiar with the traditional story of the three pigs will not be disappointed with Kellogg’s version.  The big bad wolf still huffs, puffs and tries to blow down the three pigs’ houses.  However Kellogg has made a few witty additions that make the story an entertaining read.  Such as when the wolf arrives at the third pig’s house and tells him, “I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blast this pigsty into pebbles!” The pictures support Kellogg’s witty writing with extremely detailed ink and watercolor scenes.  Much of the fun of this book is spending time looking for the play on words in the pictures such as the pig rehearsing Hamlet and La Toasta in the village where the pigs live.  Kellogg also includes onomatopoeias that can be read aloud as the wolf attempts to blow down the houses. The illustrations also help develop the characters like the robust mother, Seraphina, who starts the family waffle business or the tough wolf who is dressed like a biker with a “say yes to thugs” shirt and leather jacket.  I believe Kellogg has brought an entertaining, modern twist to a traditional tale that will make for an enjoyable read aloud.

REVIEW EXERPTS

Kirkus Review (July 01, 1997)-  “Kellogg puts a master's spin on another familiar tale.”

Booklist (August 01, 1997)- “Just as the pig family in this story soups up their old waffle iron with four wheels and various tanks, pipes, and hoses, so Kellogg takes a favorite folk tale and adds his own inventive touches of character, plot twists, and humor.”

Publishers Weekly (June 09, 1997)-  “Buoyant pictures and a pun-riddled text add gusto to Kellogg's lighthearted humor as he gives this classic caper more twists than are found in the average pig's tail.”

CONNECTION

• Pair with Jon Scieszka’s The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and compare the wolf in the two different stories (Scieszka, Jon. THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. ISBN:  0140544518.
• Have students create paper airplanes like the first pig sent with a “help me” message.  Create a  Sherriff Sheep cut out and see who can fly their plane closest to the sheep.
• Make waffles using a waffle iron and enjoy after reading the story.