THE THREE LITTLE PIGS by JAMES MARSHALL

THE THREE LITTLE PIGS by JAMES MARSHALL

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Marshall, James. 1989. THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780758738042

PLOT SUMMARY

In Marshall’s tale of THE THREE LITTLE PIGS, the events begin just as we all know them with three pigs building houses out of different materials such as hay, sticks, and brick.  The first two pigs have their home blown down by the wolf and he eats them.  The third pig, being protected in his brick home, beings the change in the story.  Though he could not blow his house down, the wolf continues to proposition Pig.  He hopes to lure him out of the house by meeting him at places, like the fair.  Pig outsmarts the wolf and finally the wolf’s patience wears off and the wolf falls down the fireplace to eat the pig.  But Pig is ready with a pot at the bottom of the fireplace and Pig had wolf for dinner that night.        

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This simple children’s retelling has only four characters, all of which are animals that possess human traits.  The pig’s houses are the setting and this is established early and provides a simplistic and concrete setup.  The story is familiar and provides the reader with a sense of satisfaction as the last pig is successful in “gobbling” up the wolf.  Though the other two pigs, as well as the wolf are eaten, the reader leaves feeling as if the story ended happily.  To encourage forgetfulness in this matter, the words that someone has been eaten are alone at the bottom of the page.  For younger, more sensitive readers, this issue might need to be discussed or the book put on hold until the reader is older.  With the word placement, parents could easily skip these words when reading to early readers.  Readers from across the world can gather the lesson of being wise in one’s decisions but young readers may not see the moral of the story but will enjoy the twisted tale.  Through the first half of the story, it maintains the original story line and repeats lines such as, “Then I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house in” and “…not by the hair of my chinny chin chin.”  These lines also provide a rhythm and opportunity for children to join in with the reading. 

Just as the plot is simple, Marshall’s illustrations are simple as well with limited detail, clear lines, and basic colors.  Though simple, the pictures are light and whimsical.  The story could be viewed as dark, scary, and criminal, but the illustrations counter this mood.  Western culture is represented.  The style of clothing includes overalls, dress suits, and other typical fashions.  The homes are common builds to our side of the world with the third pig even having the All-American dream house with a white picket fence, shutters, planters, and wind dial.   Marshall’s version of THE THREE LITTLE PIGS begins as the story we remember but takes a turn into a comical journey for the pig and the wolf.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

GoodReads – “Marshall breathes fresh new life into this familiar favorite with funny new dialogue and exuberant cartoonlike illustrations.”

Publisher’s Weekly – “"There are fairy tales, and there are Marshall's tales. Readers can be forgiven for preferring his over all the rest."

Powell’s Books - “When a lean and hungry wolf happens by, however, the not-so-traditional turn of events that follows is sure to delight readers of all ages.”

CONNECTIONS

*Activate prior knowledge by having students tell what they remember from a version of the story that they have heard.

*Read two different versions and compare and contrast the two. 

*Fold paper in half and have students illustrate one event on one side from the first story and the difference in that event from the second story on the other side and share with the class.

*Highlight the third pig not allowing the wolf in the house to teach safety when home alone.

*You could also teach being wise and making wise choices in having safe structures such as a brick home and relate that to having safety and privacy features set up on the internet and facebook.