The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig

Bibliography

Trivizas, Eugene. 1993. THE THREE LITTLE WOLVES AND THE BIG BAD PIG. Ill. by Helen Oxenbury. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN 068981528X

Plot Summary

In this fractured fairy tale version of The Three Little Pigs, the roles of the wolf and pigs are reversed.  In the beginning of this tale, the three little wolves are living with their mother, who decides that the time has come for her children to leave so they can build a house of their own.  Although she warns them to watch out for the Big Bad Pig, the little wolves are not on their own for very long before they realize that he is determined to catch them.  On three separate occasions, the three little wolves build a house, each time using stronger materials than the time before.  After watching the Big Bad Pig destroy their houses made of bricks, concrete, and reinforced steel, the three little wolves decide to try a different approach to building - only this time, the only materials they use are flowers.  Despite the fact that this new house was exceptionally delicate, the three little wolves decided to take their chances.  When the Big Bad Pig finally arrives, his huffing and puffing force him to breathe in the lovely scent of all of the flowers, and ultimately leads him to a change of heart.  The Big Bad Pig no longer wants to be bad when surrounded by all of those beautiful flowers, so he and the three little wolves decide that they can live happily ever after from that moment on.

Critical Analysis

The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig is a wonderfully enchanting version of the traditional fairy tale.  Eugene Trivizas has written an entertaining story while simultaneously retaining the charm of the original.  Although the main characters have reversed roles, most of the original dialogue during their encounters has remained the same.  The plot of this fractured fairy tale moves quickly, never taking a moment to slow the flow of action within the story.  The surprising twist in the end is fulfilling when the reader learns that the Big Bad Pig has finally discovered the simple pleasures of friendship.  As is typical of traditional tales, the main characters symbolically represent two very different ideals - kindness and cruelty.  The rhythmic pattern of the language practically begs for this story to be read aloud to others.  Helen Oxenbury's charming watercolor illustrations complement the story perfectly, for they are full of delightful and humorous details that will engage readers of all ages.

Awards

• Grand Canyon Reader Award for Picture Book
• Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Awards for Grades K-3
• A Booklist Editors' Choice
• A School Library Journal Best Book
• A Parents' Choice Honor Book

Review Excerpts

“A menacing pig is thwarted by three endearing young wolves in this new twist on the porcine favorite.  Three cheers for these frisky, frolicking creatures - and for the swine who learns the joy of friendship and beauty.” – School Library Journal

“A talented team ingeniously up-ends the classic tale of the three little pigs, and the laugh-out-loud results begin with the opening illustration...among the wittiest fractured fairytales around.” – Publishers Weekly

Connections

Reading this version of the well-known folktale provides a wonderful opportunity for children to act out the story by participating in a Reader's Theatre.  You'll find a Reader's Theatre script that has already been created for The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig here.


This version of The Three Little Pigs could be included during a genre study of folktales.  By reading many different versions of the same folktale, children will have the opportunity to practice comparing/contrasting as they determine what the versions have in common, as well as what differences they may have.  The following titles include additional versions of the original folktale that could be incorporated into this unit of study.

• The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Lowell
• The Three Little Pigs and the Fox by William H. Hooks & S.D. Schindler
• The Three Cajun Pigs by Mike Artell and Jim Harris
• Alaska's Three Pigs by Arlene Laverde and Mindy Dwyer

Swamp Angel

Bibliography

Isaacs, Anne. 1994. SWAMP ANGEL. Ill. by Paul O. Zelinsky. New York: Dutton Children's Books. ISBN 0525452710

Plot Summary

In the beginning of this original tall tale, we are introduced to Angelica Longrider, an infant who would later grow up to become "the greatest woodswoman in Tennessee."  Unlike other young children her age, Angelica possessed extraordinary abilities, including building log cabins and extinguishing fires.  At the age of twelve, Angelica appeared suddenly through the mist in the middle of a swamp to lift several covered wagons out of the mud.  The pioneers were stunned by the vision in front of them, and could scarcely believe their eyes.  Convinced that she must have been an angel sent to save them, Angelica was nicknamed Swamp Angel from that moment on by the pioneers along the wagon trails.  Swamp Angel is not the only larger than life character in this tall tale, for she shares the spotlight with a massive black bear known as Thundering Tarnation.  This enormous beast of an animal contains an insatiable craving for the Tennessee settlers' food, and no matter how hard they try, none of the frontiersmen are able to catch him.  Soon a competition arises to discover who can be the first to successfully kill Thundering Tarnation so that the wilderness can once again be left in peace.  Many men tried to conquer Tarnation, but the bear's substantial presence was far too powerful to overcome.  When Swamp Angel finally comes face to face with Tarnation, the ensuing struggle lasts three days and three nights.  The incidents between these two characters are increasingly astonishing as they each come up with creative ways to prevent the other from getting the upper hand.  After growing so tired from all the fighting, Swamp Angel and Tarnation fall asleep.  Even in her sleep, Swamp Angel manages to save the day by shaking a tree loose with her snores, which lands on top of the huge creature and kills him in his sleep.  In the end, the entire state of Tennessee celebrates Swamp Angel's mighty victory by feasting on the animal that had taken so much away from them.

Critical Analysis

Swamp Angel is an impressive heroine in this extraordinary tale.  Written by Anne Isaacs in the predictable exaggerated style found within all tall tale narratives, the story of Swamp Angel's triumph over a fearsome bear known as Thundering Tarnation is one that children everywhere will want to listen to over and over again.  The quaint language of the narrative offers the reader a glimpse into the cultural aspects of life as a settler in the early American frontier, and the rich vocabulary creates an exciting story for young readers that sounds even more wonderful when read aloud.  The characters are far from complicated, symbolizing good (Swamp Angel) versus evil (Thundering Tarnation).  The struggle between good and evil is unmistakable in this tall tale, and readers will feel satisfied when they find that good has once again triumphed over evil in the end.  Award-winning illustrator Paul O. Zelinsky brings these amazing characters to life through his attention to detail and the authentic scenery he creates for the vast Tennessee wilderness.  From the meticulous detail in each character's facial expressions to the simple touch of framing each illustration in wood, Zelinsky creates a picturesque setting for this larger than life tale.

Awards

• 1995 Caldecott Honor Book
• 1995 Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book
• 1994 ALA Notable Book
• New York Public Library, 100 Books Every Child Should Read
• School Library Journal Best Books of 1994
• New York Times Best Illustrated Books of 1994
• Booklist Children's Editors Choices 1994
• Publisher's Weekly Best Books of 1994
• Time Magazine's 8 Best Children's Books, 1994
• Parenting Magazine Reading-Magic Award, 10 Best Books of 1994

Review Excerpts

“Move over, Paul Bunyan, you are about to meet Swamp Angel, an original creation in the tall-tale tradition whose exploits are guaranteed to amaze and amuse a wide swath of readers...visually exciting, wonderful to read aloud, this is a picture book to remember.” – Horn Book (starred review)

“It is impossible to convey the sheer pleasure, the exaggerated loopiness, of newcomer Isaac's wonderful story.  Matching the superb text stride for stride are Zelinsky's altered-state, American primitive paintings - gems that provide new pleasures, reading after reading.” – Kirkus (starred review)

Connections

Incorporate Swamp Angel into a Tall Tale unit of study, in which students compare and contrast the similarities and differences they discover among a variety of tall tales.  Since this particular tall tale portrays a female character with extraordinary abilities, the teacher may choose to study other stories that contain larger than life women, including the following titles:

• Paul Bunyan's Sweetheart by Marybeth Lorbiecki
• Paula Bunyan by Phyllis Root
• Her Stories by Virginia Hamilton
• Dona Flor: A Tall Tale about a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart by Pat Mora

Throughout this tale, the origin of many of the natural phenomenon found within the United States are described.  Swamp Angel and Thundering Tarnation stir up so much dust while wrestling across the hills of Tennessee that those hills are still called the Great Smoky Mountains to this day.  After moving Thundering Tarnation's pelt to Montana and spreading the bear rug on the ground in front of her cabin, Swamp Angel created the Shortgrass Prairie.  She was also responsible for creating a constellation of stars in the exact spot where Tarnation crashed into a pile of stars after Swamp Angel threw him up in the sky.  Using these examples from the story, have children create their own tall tale to explain how a natural landform found within the United States came to be.

Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock

Bibliography

Kimmel, Eric A. (reteller) 1988. ANANSI AND THE MOSS-COVERED ROCK. Ill. by Janet Stevens. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 0823407985

Plot Summary

Anansi is a clever but lazy spider who discovers a magical moss-covered rock in the forest one day.  After exclaiming his disbelief at the sight of something so strange in the middle of the forest, Anansi abruptly faints and wakes up an hour later.  Although puzzled and curious at first, Anansi soon realizes that he can use the special powers of this mysterious rock to help him trick some of the other animals in the forest.  When Anansi notices the large pile of yams on Lion's porch, he invites Lion to walk with him in the forest to cool off on such a terribly hot day.  Inevitably, Anansi leads Lion to the moss-covered rock and tricks him into repeating the magical words.  Once Lion falls asleep, Anansi runs back to his house and collects all of Lion's delicious yams to keep for himself.  Delighted with how well his plan had worked, Anansi could hardly wait to play his trick again.  One by one, the animals of the forest continue to be deceived by Anansi - with the exception of Little Bush Deer, a shy deer who realizes what is happening and decides to teach Anansi an important lesson.  When Little Bush Deer and Anansi walk together in the forest, Anansi's plan backfires when he accidentally yells the magical words and causes himself to fall asleep.  While he is sleeping, Little Bush Deer helps all of the other animals retrieve their stolen food.  One would think that Anansi learned a valuable lesson, but the story ends with the claim that this beloved folklore character is "still playing tricks to this very day."

Critical Analysis

Although the story of Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock is originally a West African tale, it is brought to new life through the rhythmic language and vivid illustrations of animals and the forest they call their home.  Anansi is renowned for his cunning and deceptive personality, and he certainly does not disappoint in this retelling of the classic trickster tale.  Eric A. Kimmel's writing follows a natural sequence, and the suspense of Anansi's mischievous ways continues to build until Little Bush Deer cleverly outwits him in the end.  The magical powers of the moss-covered rock are characteristic of the traditional literature genre, and they will have young children everywhere anticipating which character will succumb to its powers next.  The delightful illustrations from Janet Stevens capture the individuality of each of the animals, as well as the disappointment they feel once they realize they have been tricked.  The beautiful storytelling quality of the writing makes this tale one that children will want to hear read aloud again and again.

Awards

• Association of Booksellers for Children Ten Best Books of the Year, 1989

Review Excerpts

“[This book] combines Stevens' knack for drawing funny animals with Kimmel's sense of rhythmic storytelling...Stevens has cleverly avoided cartooning the spider's face and opted instead for emphasizing his very expressive set of eight black legs.  The stylized exaggeration of words and pictures is just wry enough to avoid cuteness and maintain the mischief of a true trickster tale.” – Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Although no specific source is given, Kimmel has retold a West African tale (said to be known in Caribbean culture).  The text is rhythmic, nicely building suspense to the inevitable conclusion.  Stevens' complementary, colorful illustrations add detail, humor, and movement to the text...this new picture book Anansi tale will be welcomed by all trickster fans." – School Library Journal

Connections

After reading this story aloud, children may want to learn more about African culture since Anansi stories originate from West Africa.  They can study the continent of Africa on a globe or map and identify which countries are located in West Africa.  They can then take this information and research interesting facts about these countries, including cultural features such as traditions, dress, music, etc.  Children can extend this activity even further by taking one of the West African countries and comparing it to the United States.  How are the foods, animals, natural resources, and population found within these two countries alike?  How are they different?


After reading a variety of trickster tales that contain many different kinds of characters, have children make a venn diagram and compare the personality traits of the main characters (for example, compare Anansi from Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock to Zomo in Zomo the Rabbit by Gerald McDermott).  Children can also write their own trickster tales by creating an original character who is similar to Anansi.  These tales can be taken throughout the entire writing process and published for others to enjoy.  Another idea would be to have children rewrite the story from Little Bush Deer's point of view and notice how the folktale changes.


This trickster tale would make a perfect Reader's Theatre.  Assign children specific characters from the story, including Anansi, Little Bush Deer, Lion, Elephant, Rhinoceros, Hippopotamus, Giraffe, and Zebra.  The rest of the class can participate as narrators, and once you've found a rock and decorated it to look as though it's covered in moss, you're ready to perform!