The three pigs

Wiesner, David.  2001.  The Three Pigs.  New York: Clarion Books.  ISBN 06818007016

Plot:

The story opens with the traditional classic tale of The Three Little Pigs, then transitions into other children's stories books.  As the pages are turned, the three pigs' adventures become interesting and imaginative.  Instead of the outcome of the classic tale, the pigs are going through to see how life can be, if the wolf doesn't exist.  

Critical Analysis:

The main character are the three pigs and the wolf that is derived from the original story.  The supporting characters include a cat, a cow and a dragon.  The supporting characters are sporadically and strategically placed within the book. 

The  main theme is the pigs are jumping from various classical books and merging themselves within the story.  The illustrations shows loose leaf papers, as if, the pigs are reading classic tales, but that is a hypothesis.  The blank and torn pages within the book could support that theory.    Illustrations are colored with pencil because of the striations patterns of the characters, while others seem to be water colored images.

The idea that the pigs are finding acquaintances to scare away the wolf is something unexpected.   The setting, in which, pigs travel through various storylines creates a fun backdrop.  The pages turn and the reader can imagine the next adventure.   The book makes several references to classic children's stories to capture the audience and remind the reader of the original works. 

 

Excerpts:

From Booklist: "Wiesner has created a funny, wildly imagined tale that encourages kids to leap beyond the familiar, to think critically about conventional stories and illustration, and perhaps to flex their imaginations and create wonderfully subversive versions of their own stories."

Engberg, Gillian.  Review of The three pigs by David Wiesner.  Booklist 97(18):1761.

From School Library Journal: "Children will delight in the changing perspectives, the effect of the wolf's folded-paper body, and the whole notion of the interrupted narrative."

Lukehart, Wendy.  Review of The three pigs by David Wiesner.  School Library Journal 47(4):126. 

From Kirkus Reviews: "On the last few pages, the final words of the text break apart, sending letters drifting down into the illustrations to show us that once we have ventured into the wider world, our stories never stay the same."

Kirkus Reviews.  2001.  "Review of The three pigs by David Wiesner.  Accessed September 22.  https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/david-wiesner/the-three-pigs/.

Awards:

Caldecott Winner (2002)

Top 100 Picture Books #68 (2012) School Library Journal

Connections:

other books by David Weisner

Mr. Wuffles (2014 Caldecott Honor Books) ISBN 0618756612

Tuesday (1992 Caldecott Medal Winner) ISBN 0395551137

Flotsam (2007 Caldecott Medal Winner) ISBN 0618194576

                       

-Activities for children-

Children can be asked to write a corresponding story to continue the storyline.

Ask children to color the different houses and describe the materials that might be used.

Children can write a different scenario to continue story and present in front of the classroom.

Personal Response:

            I loved the revitalization of the classic tale and how it intertwines other stories.  I like the fact that a person can choose the ending of the book.  A teacher can engage children to use their imagination and critical thinking skills to make up additional storylines.  This practice is beneficial because a teacher can teach additional skills that can promote literacy.