Review: The Three Pigs

Bibliography:

Wiesner, David. 2001. The Three Pigs. New York: Clarion. ISBN 0618007016

Plot Summary:

What starts as a traditional retelling of the story of the three little pigs takes an unexpected turn when the wolf blows the pigs right out of the frame and thus out of the story. The pigs wander through the white space between story frames, jumping in and out of other traditional tales. After joining up with the feline fiddler from “Hey Diddle Diddle” and a dragon about to be slain by a prince, the fairy tale outcasts make their way back to the brick house to give the wolf an unexpected surprise.

Critical Review:

The story may begin “Once upon a time there were three pigs,” but similarities between the original fairy tale and David Wiesner’s retelling pretty much end there. Once Wiesner’s pigs are “free” from the confines of the traditional tale, Wiesner creates an amusing counterpoint between the frames of the story, which contain the original text, and the white areas around the frames, where the words and actions of the pigs are very much out-of-sync with what should be happening in the story.

At the beginning of the book, Wiesner’s illustrations mirror the text by looking very “generic”. This version of the three little pigs could be any of the million versions you’ve read before. When the pigs are freed from the story frame, however, they take on a more detailed and realistic look. As they invade other stories, the style of the artwork also changes to reflect that story type. The Mother Goose sequence is done in a colorful, simple style that looks appropriate for very young children. The dragon and knight segment is black and white, sketched in pencil.

Although some of the plot points of the original tale are present (the persistence of the wolf, the triumph of good over evil, the lessons regarding home construction materials), if you are looking for a conventional telling of the story, this isn't it. Young children will likely respond to the lively illustrations and the humorous behavior of the pigs, but older children will be more likely to understand the author's play on the conventions of the original stories alluded to in this version.

Review Excerpts:

Caldecott Medal Winner (2002)

“Witty dialogue and physical comedy abound in this inspired retelling of a familiar favorite” – School Library Journal (April 1, 2001)

“Wiesner's brilliant use of white space and perspective evokes a feeling that the characters can navigate endless possibilities and that the range of story itself is limitless.” – Publishers Weekly (February 26, 2001)

Connections:

Read other versions of “the three little pigs”, both traditional and fractured (such as John Scieszka’s The True Story of the Three Little Pigs).

Read other books by David Wiesner (including his other two Caldecott winners Tuesday and Flotsam).

Have children imagine if there had been a fourth little pig. What might he have built his house out of (and would it have held up to the wolf)?

What other stories might Wiesner’s three little pigs have entered? Children could create an illustration of the three little pigs within other famous tales.