Trivizas, Eugene. THE THREE LITTLE WOLVES AND THE BIG BAD PIG. Ill. by Helen Oxenbury. New York: Macmillian Publishing Company, 1993. ISBN 0590486225
In this mixed-up version
of the classic tale, it is the three little wolves that are running around
building houses, hoping to stay safe from the Big Bad Pig and his huffing and
puffing. Three fluffy little wolves are
warned by their mother to beware of the big bad wolf when they leave their home
and go out on their own. Taking her heed
to heart, they immediately set out building a sturdy house of bricks. Soon that big bad pig their mama told them about
comes prowling at their door and starts huffing and puffing. When he realizes he cannot blow the house
down, the pig does the next best thing - he knocks it down with a
sledgehammer. The three wolves narrowly
escape the destruction and turn to concrete when they build their next
home. This time, the fearless pig’s
pneumatic drill easily smashes the concrete to dust and leaves the wolves
running away again. Determined to build
an even stronger home, the wolves use a gamut of materials for their next dwelling,
including iron bars, metal padlocks and Plexiglas. But again, that evil pig finds a way to
destroy the house, this time quite literally blowing it down with
dynamite. Convinced they are going about
it all wrong, the three little wolves build their final house out of soft,
colorful flowers. This time, when the
big bad pig arrives and takes a breath to huff and puff, he is delighted by the fragrant smell. His big bad
heart grows soft and he decides to become a “big good pig,” moving in with the wolves in their flowered home. They all – of course – live happily ever
after.
Trivizas’s THE THREE
LITTLE WOLVES AND THE BIG BAD PIG is a satirical take on the classic THREE
LITTLE PIGS tale that uses humor and erratic details to keep readers laughing
as they turn the pages. For example,
throughout the story, the three little wolves meet a kangaroo pushing a
wheelbarrow of bricks, play croquet in their garden, install a video entrance
phone on their front door and soak in waterlily-filled bathtubs. Trevizas’s story is quirky and silly, almost
going overboard on the unpredictability of the details. But the story’s charm makes up for its
oddities and readers will surely enjoy the big bad pig’s exaggerated attempts
at taking down the wolves. His methods
of destruction will entertain any kid who likes to destroy things, and his
array of tools and supplies will catch the interest of innovative builders of
all ages. Triviza’s fractured fairy tale
does stay true to its roots, offering several echo lines to encourage
participation during a read aloud. The
pig’s actions are always described with, “he huffed and he puffed and he puffed
and he huffed,” and the three little wolves always tremble not only from their
chinny-chin-chins, but all the way down to the tea leaves in their china
teapot. This tale’s moral is not the
usual THREE LITTLE PIGS theme of taking time to do things the hard way to make
sure they are done right. Instead, THE
THREE LITTLE WOLVES AND THE BIG BAD PIG teaches children to get along with each
other and to be a good pig, not a bad pig.
Helen Oxenbury’s watercolor
illustrations depict the three little wolves as friendly yet skittish animals
who are always peering cautiously out their windows, looking out for the
pig. They tip toe out of their destroyed
homes and climb down piles of barbed wire.
Oxenbury makes the three little heroes endearing and lovable, as they
toss shuttlecocks across a net and work diligently to rebuild their house with
an extra-friendly beaver. The big bad
pig, on the other hand, is always depicted as scowling and grumbling, never
appearing happy or satisfied. It is not
until the very end when the pig has a change of heart that we see him smile,
and even do a jig for the wolves. Once
he learns that he can be friends with his foes, the pig looks carefree and
relaxed, playing games with the wolves in a sunny field and relaxing at home
with his new family.
PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY
applauds THE THREE LITTLE WOLVES AND THE BIG BAD PIG, calling it “among the
wittiest fractured fairy tales around.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL agrees, saying “children familiar with the Three
Little Pigs will enjoy the turnabout, the narrow escapes, and the harmonious
ending.”
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Children who enjoy the
role reversal in this story will also enjoy reading other classic fairytales
turned around, such as:
HONESTLY, RED RIDING HOOD
WAS ROTTEN, THE STORY OF LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD AS TOLD BY THE WOLF, By Tricia
Speed Shaskan, Illustrated by Gerald Guerlais, ISBN 1404870468
BELIEVE ME, GOLDILOCKS ROCKS!
THE STORY OF THE THREE BEARS AS TOLD BY BABY BEAR, By Nancy Jean Loewen,
Illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan, ISBN 140487044X
Young readers may be inspired
to write their own fractured version of this and other classic tales. For help writing fractured fairytales, visit:
Or try reading:
ONCE UPON A TIME: WRITING
YOUR OWN FAIRY TALE (WRITER’S TOOLBOX), By Nancy Loewen, Illustrated by Christopher
Lyles
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Sources:
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