THE THREE LITTLE PIGS retold and illustrated by Steven Kellogg

This familiar story of The Three Little Pigs is retold by Steven Kellogg.  Kellogg begins the story with a background story of the three pigs and their mother.  Percy, Pete, and Prudence, along with their mother, Serafina Sow, own a waffle business.  Children will delight in the story, as the pigs are given names and begin as children at school, a variant from the traditional Three Little Pigs story. The mom retires to Gulf Pasta and turns over the business to her three children.  This is when we meet the wolf, Tempesto, who does not want a waffle, but instead wants to eat the three pigs. The character of the mother pig, Serafina, is greatly expanded in this story and is a source of solving the pigs' problem.  The story ending is very light and will be intriguing to children. 

The appealing illustrations, also by Steven Kellogg, add wit and humor to the story.  The wolf, Tempesto, appears in a leather jacket with a symbol of cross bones on his jacket, along with biker boots.  Included in the illustrations are text on signs and paper airplanes adding humor to the story line.  Readers will have fun looking at the art on the pigs' walls and the slogans on the wolf's t-shirts throughout the story.  The illustrations depicting the waffle business include the flavors of the waffles, which will be a delight to read for children and adults.  The illustrations are done with watercolors and acrylic in full color.  

Kellogg, Steven.  1997. The Three Little Pigs. New York: 

Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN: 0688087329

Connections for the classroom:

This rendition of The Three Little Pigs will be a wonderful addition to your fairy tale unit to show students the different variations of the story.  

Teacher's can pair this story with Jon Scieska's The True Story of the Three Little Pigs (Viking 1989) to show the wolf's side of the story.  

More Books by Steven Kellogg

Chicken Little, ISBN 978-0688070458

Is Your Mama a Lama?, ISBN 978-0590259385

Johnny Appleseed, ISBN 978-0688064174

A, My Name is Alice, ISBN 978-0140546682

Reviews

"Just as the pig family in this story soups up their old waffle iron with four wheels and various tanks, pieces, and hoses, so Kellogg takes a favorite folk tale and adds his own invention touches of character, plot twists, and humor." -- Booklist

"Kellogg's usual busy, highly defined illustrations complement the humorous, clever text. -- School Library Journal

"Buoyant pictures and a pun-riddled text add gusto to Kellogg's light hearted humor." -- Publisher's Weekly