Porkenstein [Hardcover]

Kathryn Lasky (Author), David Jarvis (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

Newbery writer Kathryn Lasky presents a wildly funny Frankenstein / Halloween tale in the vein of Dav Pilkey's bestseller THE HALLO-WIENER, with hilarious illustrations by new artist David Jarvis.

Dr. Smart Pig is a famous inventor, but he doesn't have any friends. His brothers were eaten by the Big Bad Wolf, and now he's all alone. Halloween is coming up, and he doesn't have anyone to go trick-or-treating with. Suddenly, Dr. Pig has an idea. He can INVENT a friend--a pig who is bigger and better and absolutely wolf-proof! But things don't turn out quite as expected, and soon Dr. Pig realizes he's created a monster--an enormous porker who hogs the show but ultimately proves that true friendship comes in all shapes, sizes, and appetites. Who ate the Big Bad Wolf? PORKENSTEIN, that's who!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Face it, some kids are so lonely that if they had the power to concoct a buddy in a lab they'd do it in a heartbeat. Such is the fate of Dr. Smart Pig... heartbroken since his two brothers were eaten by the Big Bad Wolf a year ago. Glumly contemplating another Halloween alone, he decides to invent a fabulous, utterly wolfproof pig to keep him company. This backfires hideously. His first concoction is a pig fish; his second, a pig bat. The third time's the charm, and the next time he goes into his lab, he hears actual grunting, a good sign. But what's this? "There, on the table, was the biggest pig he had ever seen." Worse yet, it is very hungry--quite piggish, actually. As news of the giant monster-pig, Porkenstein, hits the media, the Big Bad Wolf gets very excited. Posing as a trick-or-treater on Halloween night, he goes to Dr. Smart Pig's house and knocks on the door. Porkenstein eats him, and everyone lives happily ever after. First-time picture-book illustrator David Jarvis succeeds in making veteran author Kathryn Lasky's silly story seem both mad-scientisty and friendly at the same time, infusing many comical details and unusual perspectives to keep things interesting. While not the best guidebook on how to make friends (make them in a lab? eat your friend's enemies?), Porkenstein is sure to amuse youngsters who prefer a not-too-scary Halloween tale. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson

From Publishers Weekly

The famous inventor Dr. Smart Pig, a lonesome survivor of the Big Bad Wolf, wants an inedible porcine companion with whom to spend Halloween. After mistakenly producing a pig-headed fish and curly-tailed bat, he creates a gigantic, voracious pink hog. When the Wolf comes trick-or-treating in an old-lady costume, Porkenstein answers the door. After a Little Red Riding Hood-style exchange, "suddenly there was a scuffling sound-followed by a huge gulp and a rumbling belch. Then silence." Lasky's (Lunch Bunnies) satire is not as sharp as Tim Egan's in The Experiments of Dr. Vermin (reviewed below), but Jarvis, in his children's debut, lards his exaggerated compositions with witty visual jokes. Ages 3-up.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Blue Sky Press (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 059062380X
• ISBN-13: 978-0590623803
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,262,866 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate Sequel to The Three Little Pigs, October 2, 2003

By 

James N Simpson (Gold Coast, QLD Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Porkenstein (Hardcover)

Porkenstein tells us what life is like for the pig who built his house out of bricks a year after the murders of his two brothers by the big bad wolf. Life is not great for a lonely pig and instead of joining a sports team or social club of some sort he decides to play God and make himself a friend in his lab. After a few unsuccessful attempts with results of a pig fish and pig bat (apparently he is too good to become friends with these lesser beings) he creates another pig, only thing is his new friend is huge and always hungry. Now I'm not going to give away the rest of this dramatic plot but rest assured there is a reappearance of the big bad wolf. The fact that he died in the pot under the chimney in the brick house a year earlier is conveniently overlooked with the author using "writer's licence" and the reader just has to conveniently play along with the story. Anyway you'll have to read the book to know what happens next in this sensational can't put down horror thriller. The only thing that lets this book down are the rather average illustrations both in quality and imagination which is a shame because it is a kid's book after all. I mean belts for Halloween costumes, come on a bit more effort would have been nice here. The written text though is brilliant and this is a sequel tale those of all ages will enjoy. Highly recommended.

If you like the fairy tale humorous style books also read There's a Hair in My Dirt an hilarious tale by Gary Larson about a princesses life in an enchanted forest. For those a bit older Whatever Happened to...? tells us how the big bad wolf was framed for the killing of grandma (red riding hood), the pigs and Peter (and the wolf). Politically Correct Fairy Tales and Once Upon a More Enlightened Time are also great. In adult fiction Once Upon a Crime is the ultimate novel based upon the classic fairy tales.

Avoid the children's book The Big Bad Pig and the Three Little Wolves. It is terrible. As is Fractured Fairytales, Snow White Blood Red and A Wolf at the Door. Do not waste your money on these.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All the kids loved this book so much., September 13, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Porkenstein (Hardcover)

I read Porkenstein to my little brother and his kindergarden class. All of the kids in his class loved this book so much they wanted to keep it and show there mom and dads.

It's a funny story and really cool pictures. The ending is the best.

Amanda

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for Halloween!, July 26, 2009

By 

Lori Calabrese "Children's Books Examiner... (Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Porkenstein (Paperback)

This is a Halloween book that can be enjoyed all year long. Most kids are fascinated with The Three Little Pigs and The Big Bad Wolf. So if you've read The Three Little Pigs a million times and need a bit of a change, then this is the book for you. You'll be happy to have a little variety in your life, and your young reader will be happy to still be hearing about the Big Bad Wolf.

The story begins with Dr. Pig who feels alone ever since the Big Bad Wolf ate his two brothers. Then he realizes, he's a famous inventor, so he can invent a friend. He sprints to his lab where he mixes up concoction after concoction. Kids will love the illustrations of his results--a pig fish, a pig bat. He just can't quite seem to get it right until finally, he thinks he's picked all the ingredients and out comes the biggest pig you've ever seen. And he's hungry. News of the giant pig spreads fast (I loved the illustration of the paparazzi snapping photos outside their house window) and the Big Bad Wolf catches a glimpse of the pig on TV. Thinking the pig would be a tasty meal, he heads off to Dr. Pig's house for a feast. In classic Big Bad Wolf style, he disguises himself in a Halloween costume and rings the bell to trick or treat. The giant pig answers the door and after they size each other up, it's the Big Bad Wolf who gets swallowed up by the pig. Nothing like a little payback!

This is a mad-scientist story that stresses the importance of friendship sure to bring laughs.