The Three Pigs

 

Bibliography
Wiesner, David, 2001. THE THREE PIGS. Ill. by David Wiesner. London, United Kingdom: Andersen Press. ISBN 9781849394055.

Plot Summary
Following the traditional approach, three pigs venture out into the world and create their own houses made of straw, sticks, and brick. They are soon approached by a wolf demanding to be let in to their houses. After refusing to open their doors, the wolf proceeds to blow their houses down. However, the pigs manage to escape becoming the wolf's meal as they are blown away into a parallel universe of familiar traditional tales. As they embark on this adventure, they meet friendly characters and manage to avoid their original fateful ending.

Critical Analysis
Wiesner's take on a traditional favorite is engaging and adventurous. It begins with the familiar approach of the three pigs building their homes made of straw, sticks, and brick. A big, hungry wolf appears and demands to be let into the houses. After the first pig refuses, the wolf blows the straw house away and the pig is blown right out of the story. Each pig is blown away and into a traveling adventure of other familiar traditional tales settings, inviting the characters to join in on their adventure. The retelling of this traditional tale is unique as it takes on a different approach of the adventure the three pigs take part of. It also includes playful dialogue among the characters from a different point of view, separate from the original story being told. The pigs are standing next to the pages of the original story being told, folding up the scary scenes of the wolf blowing away their houses and trying to eat them. Weisner's careful details and three dimensional illustrations, along with engaging characters guide the readers to follow this quirky storyline and enjoy the new ending they are given.

Review Excerpt(s)
Randolph Caldecott Medal - 2002
- Starred review in 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 out in the wider world, our stories never stay the same."
- Starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "As readers have come to expect from the inventive works of Wiesner, nothing is ever quite as it seems in his picture books."
- Starred review in BOOKLIST: "A funny, wildly imaginative tale that encourages readers to leap beyond the familiar; to think critically about conventional stories and illustrations, and perhaps, to flex their imaginations and create wonderfully subversive versions of their own stories."

Connections
- For any fans of the traditional tale of The Three Little Pigs, interested in an adventurous twist.
- For readers who enjoy stories with animal characters.
- Similar book recommendations: 
Trivizas, Eugene & Oxenbury, Helen. THE THREE LITTLE WOLVES AND THE BIG BAD PIG. ISBN 9780689815287
Wiesner, David. FLOTSAM. ISBN 9780618194575.

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