Review of "The Three Little Pigs"

Bibliography: Kellogg, Steven. 1997. The Three Little Pigs. New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc. ISBN: 0-688-08731-0

Critical Analyses: Kellogg’s version of the three little pigs features a single pig mother, named “Serafina Sow” who successfully runs a waffle-making business. After putting her three pigs, Percy, Pete, and Prudence through private school at “Hog Hollow Academy,” she decides to retire to the “Gulf of Pasta,” and leave her three pigs to run the family waffle business. The pigs set to work and build their houses – one of straw, one of logs, and one of bricks (guess which pig built the brick house – yes, it was Prudence). Everything goes well until one day the Big Bad Wolf decides he wants bacon, not waffles for breakfast. In the end they are saved by their mother, who makes the wolf into a “wolffle,” and sends him to retire at the Gulf of Pasta once he has surrendered.

Steven Kellogg’s colored ink, watercolor, and acrylic pictures are colorful and soft with thin, relaxed, black outlines. He humorously adds details to each picture that the careful observer will find. For instance, the wolf wears a shirt that says, “Say Yes to Thugs,” and outside the local jail there are “Wanted” posters for “Foxy-Loxy” and “Tempesto.” Children that are familiar with the more common version of “The Three Little Pigs” will find humor in this parody of the well-known tale.

Awards:

I could find no awards listed for this book.

Review Excerpts:

School Library Journal: “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.”

Booklist: “Just as Serafina's customers flock to The Wheeled Wafflery, so children will greet Kellogg's latest picture book with eagerness based on memories of his many satisfying books.”

Connections:

Children may find the following "twisted" versions of this tale entertaining: The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka. An age appropriate discussion about protagonist and point of view is perfect when sharing a twisted version of a tale with the well-known variant.