THE THREE LITTLE PIGS by Steven Kellogg

Bibliography
Kellogg, Steven. 1997. THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. New York: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN: 0688087329

Plot Summary
This is Steven Kellogg's version of the story of the Three Little Pigs.  In this version, a mother pig named Serifina Sow raises three piglets named Percy, Pete, and Prudence.  Serifina decides to start a waffle business and her children help her run it.  Once they finish school, Serifina retires and Percy, Pete, and Prudence take over the business.  They also each build a home nearby.  Percy builds a straw bungalow, Pete a log cabin, and Prudence constructs a brick cottage.  One day a wolf named Tempesto shows up and tells them he does not want waffles, but instead he wants them.  As in the classic story, the wolf attempts to blow the pigs' houses down.  However, in this version, when the pigs are all safe in Prudence's brick cottage Serifina Sow shows up to the rescue.  They outsmart Tempesto, and he ends up giving up crime and becomes a beach bum.  Percy, Pete, and Prudence get married, have children, and expand the family business.  Serifina's dream comes true.

Critical Analysis
Kellogg's illustrations are very colorful, humorous, and full of detail.  For example, when the wolf blows the houses down, the artwork shows tiny details of items from the homes in the air.  There are also captions in some of the drawings.  Kellogg includes several examples of onomatopoeia in his illustrations each time the wolf blows a house down.  This version is very child friendly since none of the characters are eaten or killed.  Kellogg blends in text from the classic version such as "Not by the hair of our chinny chin chins!"  He also adds an interesting twist to the story by naming the characters, making one of them a female, and having them run a waffle business.  Definitely a great example of a beast tale.

Review Excerpt(s)
1999 Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award 

BOOKLIST review: "...lively, colorful illustrations...wordplay a plenty in the text and pictures too..." 

PARENTS review: "...Witty plot twists and pictures packed with visual puns make Kellogg's version of this old tale a pigtorial feast."

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY review: "Buoyant pictures and a pun-riddled text add gusto to Kellogg's light hearted humor..." 

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: "Kindergarten-Grade 3. This contemporary retelling features Serafina Sow, whose mission in life is to bring waffles to the world. After building a highly successful wafflery, she retires to the Gulf of Pasta, leaving the family business in the hands of her capable offspring, Percy, Pete, and Prudence. The three operate the business and build themselves comfortable homes of straw, wood, and brick, of course. Enter Tempesto, a thugish, leather-jacketed wolf. He orders the three pigs to cook themselves as he isn't interested in waffles. Kellogg's usual busy, highly defined illustrations complement the humorous, clever text. In the satisfying, nonfatal ending, Serafina Sow returns from retirement to help her children defeat Tempesto, who has the meanness steamed out of him after coming down the chimney into the waffle iron. He is sent to the Gulf of Pasta in Serafina's place, where he spends his days as a mellow beach bum. A tempting choice to pair with Jon Scieszka's The True Story of the Three Little Pigs (Viking, 1989) and your favorite traditional version for porcine storytime fun."

Connections

• Children can come up with their own variants or versions of the THREE LITTLE PIGS.
• Students could explore the many different ways the story has been written over the years by reading other variants or versions of the THREE LITTLE PIGS.
• This book could prompt a discussion about how children leave home once they are adults.
• Kids could have a waffle classroom party with their favorite toppings.

Related books:

• Kimmel, Eric A. 2009. THE THREE LITTLE TAMALES. Ill. by Valeria Docampo. New York: Marshall Cavendish Children. ISBN: 9780761455196
• Scieszka, Jon. 1989. THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. Ill. by Lane Smith. New York, NY: Viking Kestrel. ISBN: 9780140544510
• Trivizas, Eugenios. 1993. THE THREE LITTLE WOLVES AND THE BIG BAD PIG. Ill. by Helen Oxenbury. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. ISBN: 9780689815287