THE TRUE STORY OF THE 3 LITTLE PIGS by Jon Scieszka

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Scieszka, Jon. 1989. THE TRUE STORY OF THE 3 LITTLE PIGS. Ill. by Lane Smith. New York: Viking Penguin. ISBN 060827592

PLOT SUMMARY:
This traditional tale turns out not to be so traditional. THE TRUE STORY OF THE 3 LITTLE PIGS begins with the wolf, Alexander T. Wolf, telling his side of the story. He says that the whole "Big Bad Wolf" thing is wrong and that the real story is about a cup of sugar and a sneeze. The wolf was trying to bake a cake for his granny when he ran out of sugar and had to go to the pig's house to borrow some. He went to 2 pigs' houses and sneezed as he was trying to borrow the sugar. This caused both houses to fall to the ground. At both houses, he ate the pigs because he didn't want the food to be wasted. At the last house, the pig told the wolf to go away and not to bother him. The wolf thought this was rude and suddenly began to sneeze again. Well, the cops show up as the wolf really was trying to break the door down because he was upset at the pig's rudeness. Alexander T. Wolf contends that he was a sick guy who only wanted to borrow sugar, and the pigs jazzed up the story and made him out to be a bad wolf. Acording to the wolf, he was framed and that landed him in jail.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
This little traditional tale has two themes. It is about how people thought the wolf was bad, but he really is not. He was a good guy just trying to make a cake for his granny. The author makes the reader stop and think about two ideas. First, people will judge you because of your past and personality. Second, don't believe everything you hear. Kids will also figure out that there are 2 sides to every story. The way the wolf tells the story is interesting because he actually makes you believe that he is telling the truth. The reader might also figure out that the pigs are not with out fault when the last pig said impolite things to the wolf.

The illustrations by Lane Smith are somewhat dark and grainy, but the illustrate the story effectively. These great pictures help the reader understand the action in the story. The wolf does not look like a bad guy which perfectly matches what the wolf wants us to believe.

This book would be understood best by older elementary students. Young primary grade students might not understand the underlying themes. Older students will understand it because they have most likely heard the original version. They will like the fact that the wolf gets to tell his version of the story.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "It's the type of book that older kids (and adults) will find very funny."
PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: " Designed with uncommon flair, gaily newfangled version of the classic tale takes sides with the villian. Imaginative watercolors eschew realism, further updating the tale."

CONNECTIONS:
Lessons for teachers using THE TRUE STORY OF THE 3 LITTLE PIGS can be foundat these sites:
www.teachingheart.net/truepigs.html
www.teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/mff/fractured_fairy_true.htm