The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs

( 51 )

Overview

Now fans of the delightful The True Story of the Three Little Pigs can hear the story read aloud in inimitable style by Jon Scieszka. Side one features a reading of the story accompanied by music, while side two offers a toe-tapping original soundtrack by composer Kurt Hoffman.

The wolf gives his own outlandish version of what really happened when he tangled with the three little pigs.

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More About This Book

Overview

Now fans of the delightful The True Story of the Three Little Pigs can hear the story read aloud in inimitable style by Jon Scieszka. Side one features a reading of the story accompanied by music, while side two offers a toe-tapping original soundtrack by composer Kurt Hoffman.

The wolf gives his own outlandish version of what really happened when he tangled with the three little pigs.

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Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
In this gaily newfangled version of a classic tale, Scieszka and Smith ( Flying Jake ) argue in favor of the villain, transforming the story of the three little pigs into a playfully suspicious, rather arch account of innocence beleaguered. Quoth the wolf: ``I don't know how this whole Big Bad Wolf thing got started, but it's all wrong.'' According to his first-person testimony, the wolf went visiting the pigs in search of a neighborly cup of sugar; he implies that had the first two happened to build more durable homes and the third kept a civil tongue in his head, the wolf's helpless sneezes wouldn't have toppled them. As for his casual consumption of the pigs, the wolf defends it breezily (``It seemed like a shame to leave a perfectly good ham dinner lying there in the straw'') and claims cops and reporters ``framed'' him. Smith's highly imaginative watercolors eschew realism, further updating the tale, though some may find their urbane stylization and intentionally static quality mystifyingly adult. Designed with uncommon flair, this alternative fable is both fetching and glib. Ages 3-8. (Sept.)
Children's Literature - Debra Briatico
In this humorous story, Alexander T. Wolf tells his own outlandish version of what really happens during his encounter with the three pigs. He claims that he runs out of sugar for a cake that he is making for his grandmother. In an effort to locate sugar for his recipe, he visits the homes of his pig neighbors. At the first two houses, he goes into sneezing fits and ends up blowing the houses down, killing both pigs. Of course he couldn't let those two good meals go to waste, so he eats them up! When he visits the third house, occupied by a grouchy pig, the wolf endures nasty insults, and as a result, tries to knock down the front door. When the police arrive at the scene, they capture an angry sneezing and wheezing wolf. After he ends up in jail, the wolf claims that he is being framed by the media, who are "blowing" the whole story out of proportion. Smith's simplistic and wacky illustrations add to the effectiveness of this fractured fairy tale.
School Library Journal
Gr 3 Up-- Victim for centuries of a bad press, Alexander (``You can call me Al'') T. Wolf steps forward at last to give his side of the story. Trying to borrow a cup of sugar to make a cake for his dear old Granny, Al calls on his neighbors--and can he help it if two of them built such shoddy houses? A couple of sneezes, a couple of dead pigs amidst the wreckage and, well, it would be shame to let those ham dinners spoil, wouldn't it? And when the pig in the brick house makes a nasty comment about Granny, isn't it only natural to get a little steamed? It's those reporters from the Daily Pig that made Al out to be Big and Bad, that caused him to be arrested and sent to the (wait for it) Pig Pen. ``I was framed,'' he concludes mournfully. Smith's dark tones and sometimes shadowy, indistinct shapes recall the distinctive illustrations he did for Merriam's Halloween ABC (Macmillan, 1987); the bespectacled wolf moves with a rather sinister bonelessness, and his juicy sneezes tear like thunderbolts through a dim, grainy world. It's the type of book that older kids (and adults) will find very funny. --John Peters, New York Public Library
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780140544510
  • Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
  • Publication date: 3/28/1996
  • Format: Mass Market Paperback
  • Edition description: Reprint
  • Edition number: 10
  • Pages: 32
  • Sales rank: 17,826
  • Age range: 4 - 8 Years
  • Product dimensions: 8.20 (w) x 10.30 (h) x 0.20 (d)

Meet the Author

Jon Scieszka
Jon Scieszka

Jon Scieszka is the author of The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!, the Time Warp Trio series, The Stinky Cheese Man, and a truckload of other books that inspire kids to want to read. His work as an elementary school teacher and as founder of a literacy initiative for boys (www.guysread.com) drove him to create Trucktown, a crazy, fun action series for the youngest readers.

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 51 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(43)

4 Star

(5)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(2)

1 Star

(1)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 51 Customer Reviews

  • Posted October 26, 2009

    Must read for kids (young and old)

    The only problem I find is that when I try to read it to children, all of the adults have to stop and listen, too. You never knew the real story of the Three Little Pigs until you hear the wolf's side of the story. Now you can decide just WHO is telling the truth.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted October 26, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    Fun for Kids and Adults

    This gives a definite new twist to the Three Little Pigs, and lets everyone know that there are always two sides to every story, regardless. It is all in the perception - and of course who is telling the story. Great for kids, and fun for adults to read to them. I have given this book as a gift on many occasions.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 13, 2009

    Cute story!

    This is a cute story and very interesting reading the other side of the story! My children loved it!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 24, 2013

    Recommend

    To a five year old sneezing is funny so this book was received well in my home. We followed it up by making small houses out of cards, sticks, and blocks and trying to sneeze them down. Fun book, fun activities. I'd recommend it to friends.

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  • Posted November 14, 2012

    Love it!

    Love it!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted December 13, 2011

    Nothing to Sneeze At! A book children AND adults will LOVE!

    The first time I read this books was to my best friends five year old son. He had read it before so he knew what to expect! I was simply expecting the original story of the Three Little Pigs, but was pleasantly surprised! Not only was I completely mistaken, I ended up feeling sorry for Wolf! This is a fun and easy book to read. I stated above that both children and adults will love this book! It is so true! I read a ton of children¿s literature and this is definitely at the top of my list! The dry sense of humor is wonderful for the adults who are reading to their children and the story plot is hilarious for children! The illustrations are beautiful and fun for the children and adults to look at. All the details are amazing! However, I still feel that the storyline is where the true genius lies. Who would have thought to retell this story from the Wolf¿s point of view? After all, isn¿t he the ¿bad guy?¿ Well, by the end of this book I have a feeling you will have a different outlook on Mr. Alexander T. Wolf. Enjoy this amazing book! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did! (P.S) The story is MUCH better when you do all of the different voices!

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  • Posted December 19, 2010

    A definate must read and must buy!!!

    My mother used to read this story to me when I was little and I bought it for my daughter for this upcoming christmas. I enjoyed this book so much its one of 3 that I remember from childhood. I do hope my daughter will enjoy it as much as I did!! Its a cute story that adults and children alike will love and love to read over and over again!

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  • Posted February 21, 2010

    Hysterical

    For a kid with a good sense of humor, this is a great book. It puts a funny twist of the original story of the three little pigs as well as teaching children that theres more than one side of a story.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 6, 2010

    The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs

    Love love loved this book!!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 30, 2010

    True story of 3 ittle pigs not acceptable for young children. I was EXTREMELY disappointed with this book. I actually threw the book away rather then read it to my grandchildren or even donate it to a library. H

    This book was filled with sarcasm. All 3 pigs meet a violent end and the wolf just couldn't let all that good ham go to waste so he eats them. What sort of lesson is there to learn for small children in this book?

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  • Posted December 7, 2009

    A must-read book for children of all ages.

    Every time I try to read it to children, the adults gather.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 5, 2009

    Excellent and Fun

    Great to read aloud to children. It haves them laughing and enthralled

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  • Posted November 1, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    The Boyfriend League

    You Will not want to miss this!!!

    This book as it might be for children is an amazing book for adults as well. It has great characteristics and feelings. This story makes me remember the golden rule. i know this for a fact. Jon Scieszka is an amazing narator as much as he is an amazing author. I hope when you read this book you will enjoy it as much as i did for the first time.

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  • Posted September 12, 2009

    The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs

    A good book to lead in a discussion of others point of view.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 29, 2009

    The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

    Wonderful, creative story.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 28, 2009

    Nice different point of view

    Creative and fun story. Definitely (and obviously) read the original 3 Little Pigs before reading this book to your kids.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 17, 2009

    a must have!

    I read this book as a little girl and loved it! now my 4 year old loves hearing the wolf's side of a classic 3 little pig story, she talks about it all the time!

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  • Posted May 30, 2009

    I Also Recommend:

    How I Spent My Summer Vacation
    There's Nothing to Do on Mars
    Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

    If Tony Soprano Had Been A Wolf...

    Hysterical version of the 3 little pigs. Best read with a Jersey accent to add to the amusement. Younger children might not grasp the irony, but love the story. Reminds me of the under-rated children's movie "Hoodwinked."

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 10, 2009

    Every story has two sides

    A humorous version of what the wolf was thinking when he came upon the 3 pigs. A quick and funny read for young ones.

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  • Posted February 9, 2009

    Cute Twist on Classic Fairy Tale!

    The twist on the classic tale is fun and entertaining. My first-grade son loves the book. The illustrations are well done as well.

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 51 Customer Reviews
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