The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Scieszka, Jon. 1989. The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! by. A. Wolf. Ill. by Laine Smith. New York: Viking Press.  ISBN 0670827592

2. PLOT SUMMARY
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! by. A. Wolf by Jon Scieszka is a retelling of a classic fairy tale from the perspective of the Big, Bad Wolf.  Al (the wolf) claims that it was all just a misunderstanding about allergies and a cup of sugar.  Of course, there were still the two pigs that were eaten, but you don't let good food go to waste.  Do you?

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Jon Scieszka uses the elements of traditional literature in a fun way to tell a classic tale from a new first person perspective.  The characters take on a dramatic shift with the pigs being evil and the wolf portrayed as a framed, misunderstood creature who was just trying to do something nice for his granny. 

The plot, while similar to the classic version of the story has twists and action which drive the story.  Unlike the original, Scieska has added a quest for a cup of sugar to help explain the wolf's motive for visiting the pigs. 

The setting is simply stated at "back in Once Upon a Time time" lending to the vague, generalization of traditional literature and allows for children to set their own time and place.

The illustrations by Lane Smith use dark colors including lots of brown.  Most illustrations are framed to create snapshots of story moments.  Further, Mr. Smith's illustrations depict elements of news stories and further the idea of the wolf being framed by the third pig and police.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Designed with uncommon flair, this alternative fable is both fetching and glib.- Publishers Weekly
It's the type of book that older kids (and adults) will find very funny - School Library Journal

5. CONNECTIONS
*Read more fractured fairy tales
*Compare and contrast point of view and perspective
*Create a reader's theater or use the one found at http://www.timelessteacherstuff.com/readerstheater/TruePigs.pdf