Alaska's Three Pigs (PAWS IV) [Paperback]

Arlene Laverde (Author), Mindy Dwyer (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 5, 2000 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: PAWS IV

The newest addition to the Paws IV line of Alaska children's books features the classic story of those irresistible little pigs--retold Alaskan-style, as the pigs camp, fish, ski, and build homes on the Last Frontier! This delightful take on the original is full of Alaska details and is sure to charm readers of all ages.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-This nicely designed book holds promise in its concept, but falls a bit flat in its execution. The premise is fun: the three little pigs go Alaskan with a starring role for a grizzly bear in place of the wolf. Unfortunately, Laverde's story is wordy and not smoothly written. Despite the use of energetic fonts to highlight key words, the text lacks the snap found in Dwyer's cartoon artwork. Set off by decorative borders, the colorful illustrations provide a few humorous visual details, e.g., the homesteading pigs are provisioned with an endless supply of canned yams, instead of Spam. However, the traditional brick house is replaced with a crystal-clear ice igloo, reinforcing an unfortunate stereotype of Alaska. Sharp-eyed readers will wonder why the huffing and puffing grizzly freezes into a Denali-sized (rectangular) ice cube after falling into a (presumably round) barrel of melted snow water. There may be a demand for this title in Alaskan libraries or in collections seeking variants on the popular tale, but this retelling does not live up to the example set by Jon Scieszka's wonderfully original The True Story of the Three Little Pigs (Viking, 1989).
Sue Sherif, Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Library, AK
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Arlene Laverde is an elementary schoolteacher, and this is her first book. Artist Mindy Dwyer is an award-winning author/illustrator of two books for children; she lives in Anchorage, Alaska.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sasquatch Books/Paws IV Children's Books (September 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570612293
• ISBN-13: 978-1570612299
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 0.1 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #221,135 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars alaskas three pigs, January 10, 2001

By 

Christine D. Van Ells "mamavan1996" (Sheridan, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alaska's Three Pigs (PAWS IV) (Paperback)

we lived in alaska and found this to remind us of our days in alaska. The author did a great job with this story and the illustrations are excellent too! i am buying a few more to give as gifts to friends in alaska.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite book to read to my daughter!, May 27, 2010

By 

Dakota Girl (St. Paul, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alaska's Three Pigs (PAWS IV) (Paperback)

My mother-in-law got this book on a cruise ship. It is my favorite book to read my daughter. It's a fun adaptation of the Three Little Pigs with great animation.