Summary: Alexander T. Wolf, also known as the Big Bad Wolf, gets to tell his side of the classic Three Little Pigs story. You learn how the seemingly innocent act of visiting neighbors becomes a tragic story for everyone involved.
Summary of Professional Reviews: This new twist on the old fairytale gives A. Wolf the chance to tell what happened when he visited each of the three little pigs. Scieszka uses humor to tell the tale, and Smith supports the story with colorful impressionist illustrations.
Review by Crystal Ball: You may think you know the good guys from the bad in most fairytales but Jon Scienszka may just make you reconsider your position. At the very least you walk away feeling you understand the other side of the events. Al Wolf just wanted to do something special for his grandmother and, according to him, the three pig brothers were less than helpful. This version of the classic plot is peppered with humor and surprises. It evoked feelings of sympathy for the traditional monster who we have always been lead to believe indiscriminately attack innocent victims. All of the vocabulary is simple enough for young children. However, older children may have an easier time understanding the concepts of framing and media hype. Lane Smith’s captivating illustrations are creatively used throughout the book. Bricks, sticks, and straw making the letter E and a blackboard highlighting the key aspects to the wolf's version of events are just a couple of the ways Smith maintains interest in her pictures.
This book would be useful when teaching…
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! would be useful to help children understand the opposing points of view everyone has of a situation. A teacher could lead a discussion about understanding others’ side of the story. It could help the students figure out how to resolve conflicts with their peers.
There are also some very nice examples of mixing the text with the illustrations. If this was noted by the students or the educator, the students could be inspired to use their drawings in creative ways in their own writing.
Summary of Professional Reviews: This new twist on the old fairytale gives A. Wolf the chance to tell what happened when he visited each of the three little pigs. Scieszka uses humor to tell the tale, and Smith supports the story with colorful impressionist illustrations.
Review by Crystal Ball: You may think you know the good guys from the bad in most fairytales but Jon Scienszka may just make you reconsider your position. At the very least you walk away feeling you understand the other side of the events. Al Wolf just wanted to do something special for his grandmother and, according to him, the three pig brothers were less than helpful. This version of the classic plot is peppered with humor and surprises. It evoked feelings of sympathy for the traditional monster who we have always been lead to believe indiscriminately attack innocent victims. All of the vocabulary is simple enough for young children. However, older children may have an easier time understanding the concepts of framing and media hype. Lane Smith’s captivating illustrations are creatively used throughout the book. Bricks, sticks, and straw making the letter E and a blackboard highlighting the key aspects to the wolf's version of events are just a couple of the ways Smith maintains interest in her pictures.
This book would be useful when teaching…
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! would be useful to help children understand the opposing points of view everyone has of a situation. A teacher could lead a discussion about understanding others’ side of the story. It could help the students figure out how to resolve conflicts with their peers.
There are also some very nice examples of mixing the text with the illustrations. If this was noted by the students or the educator, the students could be inspired to use their drawings in creative ways in their own writing.