The True Story of The 3 Little Pigs!

Book Title: The True Story of The 3 Little Pigs!

Author(s): Jon Scieszka

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Lane Smith

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Copyright Date: 1989

Genre: Picturbook, Folktale, Fantasy

Brief Annotation: This story is told from the viewpoint of the Wolf in the traditional tale of The Three Little Pigs. The wolf is seriously misunderstood. He was baking a cake for his lovely little grandmother when he ran out of sugar. He went to his neighbor’s house to borrow some sugar but the rude little pig wouldn’t let him in. Unfortunately, the wolf had a terrible cold and as he was about the leave he had a tremendous sneeze and blew the pigs house down. The wolf, not wanting to waste food, decided since the pig was already dead he would eat it. The wolf moved on to the next neighbor’s house, the same thing happened to him. The mean pig wouldn’t let him in and he accidentally sneezed and blew the pig’s house down. On the third neighbor’s house, which was much stronger and the wolf thought this was a much smarter pig, he still wouldn’t let him borrow any sugar for his lovely grandmother’s birthday cake. The wolf began to get angry because all he wanted was to do something nice for his grandmother. When the police came, the said that the wolf was big and bad and that is how the story has been told.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 5 – This clever rendition of the classic folktale is funny and witty. The way in which it was written, along with the illustrations, as if it were a newspaper story is very creative. It gives students a different way of looking at a story. It also teaches everyone not to always believe what you hear and that there are always two sides to every story.

Readers who will like this book: Young readers who are curious and interested in viewing a classic story in a different way. Also, anyone who has ever read or heard the story of The Three Little Pig would find this spin on the folktale hilarious and exciting.

Teaching Strategy from Tompkins or Yopp & Yopp: A fun teaching strategy for this book would be to do Readers Theatre (Tompkins, pg. 97-99) It would give the students a chance to act out this book. Another option would be to have groups of students write their own scripts to a possible alternative to what may have happened in this traditional folktale. They could practice it and act it out in front of the class. It would give students the opportunity to work in groups, work on their comprehension skills, writing skills, and verbal skills.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: Can anyone explain what the word controversy means?

Optional, but noted as extra effort:

1. Interest Level (age): K – 3

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 2.5

3. List awards: Parent’s Choice Silver Honor

4. Does this book have a book trailer?

http://youtu.be/hj8Veprh98Q