The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig

The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig

author: Eugene Trivizas

illustrator: Helen Oxenbury

Genre: Picture Book, Fractured Fairy Tale

Summary (from Goodreads):  When it comes time for the three little wolves to go out into the world and build themselves a house, their mother warns them to beware the big bad pig. But the little wolves' increasingly sturdy dwellings are no match for the persistent porker, who has more up his sleeve than huffing and puffing. It takes a chance encounter with a flamingo pushing a wheelbarrow full of flowers to provide a surprising and satisfying solution to the little wolves' housing crisis.
Eugene Trivizas's hilarious text and Helen Oxenbury's enchanting watercolors have made this delightfully skewed version of the traditional tale a contemporary classic.

Review:  My girls love this book - I have read it three times in the last few days.  The story is a fun twist on The Three Little Pigs, with the big bad pig finding creative ways to destroy the sturdy houses built by the three little wolves.  My kids were a bit confused by some of the games the wolves play and by the building materials and destruction methods, but we spent a while discussing those things, which was a good educational opportunity.  Perhaps this story would be more easily understood by British boys?  I loved that the story talked about the importance of generosity and forgiveness, too.

Rating: 4 stars