Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig

Bibliography

Trivizas, E. (1997). The three little wolves and the big bad pig. Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Plot Summary

The three little wolves set out to make their way in the world. Their mother warns them about the Big Bad Pig. They set out to build a home for themselves but the Big Bad Pig continues to destroy their homes. Eventually, the three little wolves build a house of flowers. The Big Bad Pig’s heart becomes tender as he sniffs the flowers. With the Big Bad Pig’s change of heart, the little wolves welcome him to join them living in the home of flowers.

Critical Analysis

Trivizas’ version of the three little pigs explores the role reversal of characters. Trivizas paints the wolves as, “three cuddly little wolves with soft fur and fluffy tails.” This depiction is a far cry from the scary wolf in the traditional tale. We are forewarned about the big bad pig by the mother wolf and the little wolves’ actions. This builds anticipation until we meet the pig after the first house if built. The role reversal is strengthened by the Oxenbury’s illustrations of the characters. The pig appears angry, we can definitely see that he is “big and bad.” The illustrations of the homes include modern technology that will allow children to relate to the safety of the structures, one example is the video phone on the house made of metal armor. While Trivizas explores a reversal of roles with the main characters, the ending strays from the traditional tale. The theme of good vs evil is still evident but in this tale everyone ends up happily ever after. The pig’s heart becomes tender and the little wolves welcome him with open arms.

Review Excerpts

From Kirkus Reviews:

“Never mind the other incarnations of this tale—classic, fractured, rapped; this inversion

will have children giggling from the outset.”

From Publishers Weekly:

“Oxenbury's watercolors capture the story's broad humor and add a wealth of

supplementary details, with exquisite renderings of the wolves' comic temerity and

the pig's bellicose stances. Among the wittiest fractured fairy tales around.”

From Toppsta:

“The classic fight between pigs and wolves as you've never seen it before! A subversive

and hilarious take on the well-loved fairy tale.”

Awards and Honors

• School Library Journal Best Books of the Year

• ILA/CBC Children's Choices

• Bulletin Blue Ribbon

• Booklist Editors' Choice

• Volunteer State Book Award (TN)

Connections

Gather additional versions of books about the Three Little Pigs such as:

• The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! by John Scieszka

• The Three Pigs by David Wiesner

• The Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz

Use the books for a lesson on folktales. Review the elements of folktales. Allow students to

compare and contrast the two versions of this folktale.