The Three Little Pigs

Bibliography

Kellogg, Steven. 1999. The Three Little Pigs. New York, NY: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 0688087310

Plot Summary

Percy, Pete and Prudence are three happy little pigs. They are living comfortably thanks to the waffle business their mother Serafina had started. All things were great until a hungry wolf named Tempesto shows up. Tempesto’s huffing and puffing was not enough to bring down the three little pigs. With some help from mother pig Tempesto is sent on his way a changed wolf.

Critical Analysis

The characters in this story represent both good and evil. On the good side we are introduced to Percy, Pete and Prudence and their business minded mother Serafina. Playing for the evil team we have Tempesto the big, bad wolf. While these characters are simple, they are not boring and readers find themselves rooting for the three pigs and happy that the evil Tempesto learns the right way.

This updated version of the traditional story of The Three Little pigs follows the same general plot line. Three lovable pigs have found themselves happy in simple homes made of straw, sticks and bricks. All is well until the big, bad wolf comes to town and huffs and puffs and blows two of their houses down. The story is resolved by the smarts of the last little pig who built their house out of bricks buying them some time to trick the wolf and save the day. The reader in this story is left with a particularly satisfying ending knowing that the wolf was not hurt in the writing of this story. He simply understands the errors of his way and lands himself enjoying the sun and fun of the Gulf of Pasta while the three pigs and their mother build a waffle empire.

The setting of the story is very vague when left up to the words alone. It is not specifically the distant past, and it is not a modern setting either. The vagueness of the setting is one way readers are able to relate to the story for generations. As with many traditional stories, the time flies by as we watch the three little pigs grow up, overcome evil and raise piglets of their own in such a short time.

As with the traditional story, good triumphs over evil presenting the reader with the idea that being mean never gets you anything you really want. There is also a sense of perseverance present while the reader journeys with the pigs from one house to another trying to get away from the wolf. Finally, after several tries they are able to beat the wolf by treating him like one of the waffles from the waffle truck. I was very pleased, as were my test students, that the wolf at the end was a changed wolf and led a happy life being mellow and kind. This teachers the reader that lesson that once a bad apple does not always make for a bad apple…people can change!

The illustrations of this retelling of The Three Little Pigs are a whimsical addition of the story. The introduce us to a setting so full of details. While reading the story to a class of second graders they couldn’t get enough of them. Adults are given an extra bit of humor to help make the story enjoyable too with references to “HAMlet” and “peopley banks.”

Review Excerpts

"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?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.” –School Library Journal

"Just as the pig family in this story soups up their old waffle iron with four wheels and various tanks, pipes, and hoses, so Kellogg takes a favorite folk tale and adds his own inventive touches of character, plot twists, and humor. Serafina Sow supports her three little pigs with her traveling waffle business, but when the children graduate from Hog Hollow Academy, she retires to the Gulf of Pasta and turns the business over to the next generation. Percy builds a straw bungalow, Pete a log cabin, and Prudence a brick cottage. When Tempesto the wicked wolf looks at the waffle menu and orders piglet, the traditional tale is off and running, with some entirely new details and no apologies to anyone. Much of the broad humor is carried in the lively, colorful illustrations, though there's wordplay aplenty in the text and pictures too: Tempesto slides down the chimney, lands on the waffle iron, is blasted with maple syrup, smothered in butter, and turned into a "WOLFFLE." 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. Pure pleasure for Kellogg fans.” -Booklist

Connections

Other books by Steven Kellogg:
-Johnny Appleseed
-Paul Bunyan
-Pecos Bill
-Millions to Measure
-Chicken Little

Three Little Pigs Unit Study
Steven Kellogg Author Study
Steven Kellogg Official Website