Marshall breathes fresh new life into this familiar favorite with funny new dialogue and exuberant cartoonlike illustrations. As Publishers Weekly raved, "There are fairy tales, and there are Marshall's tales. Readers can be forgiven for preferring his over all the rest."
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Readers who grin when they pick up this title can be forgiven for correctly anticipating amusing antics within, especially if they are familiar with Marshall's other half-fractured fairy tales (including Goldilocks and the Three Bears , a Caldecott Honor book). Deadpan as ever, Marshall begins this one in a traditional way: the old sow sends her piglets off into the big world. Despite the protests of the tradesmen who sell them materials, both the first and second pig construct their flimsy houses of straw and sticks. In short order, they are gobbled up by the wolf. The pig who invests in bricks, of course, does the gobbling when he encounters the wolf, after a merry mass of near misses that blithely build suspense. There are fairy tales, and there are Marshall's tales. Readers can also be forgiven for preferring his over all the rest. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3-- Marshall brings his own brand of humor to both text and pictures in this retelling of the popular nursery tale . He retains the classic format of the tale, including all of the familiar phrases ("I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in"), but his own asides make the story fresh and lively. For example, when the first little pig decides to build a house of straw, and the straw seller warns, "That's not a good idea," he expresses just what all the worldly wise six- and seven-year-old readers will be thinking. Without a word of description, the colorful cartoon illustrations in ink and watercolor give the three pigs separate personalities. The lazy pig builds a house of straw which takes him "no time at all," and the artistic pig, a stick house which is "very pretty." The wolf, with his slouching posture and shifty, yellow eyes, looks just the sort of character who would lose his temper and jump down the chimney when force and tricks fail to capture the third little pig. Good stories can be retold endlessly, and Marshall's inventive version of The Three Little Pigs is an excellent addition for all library picture-book collections. --Karen James, Louisville Free Public Library, KY
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
James Marshall (1942-1992) created dozens of exuberant and captivating books for children, including THE STUPIDS, MISS NELSON IS MISSING!, and the ever-popular GEORGE AND MARTHA books. Before creating his canon of classic, hilarious children's books, James Marshall played the viola, studied French, and received a master's degree from Trinity College. He also doodled. It was the doodles, and the unforgettable characters that emerged from them, that led him to his life's work as one of the finest creators of children's books of the twentieth century. In 2007, James Marshall was posthumously awarded the Laura Ingalls Wilder medal for his lasting contribution to literature for children.
Customer Reviews
Share your thoughts with other customers
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
I just couldn't bear to let a middle school kid give this book an "average customer review" of one star. This book is a side-splitter. Absolutely hysterical. My children were rolling on the floor. Also get Marshall's "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" and "Red Riding Hood" for a set of some of the best retellings ever. Marshall's wry sense of humor makes him a favorite in our home school.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
My 2.5 year old loves this book. Now he asks everyone what their house is made of.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I love James Marshall books. I am a grandma and I collect them for myself. I even read them to my grandchildren. We like the humor. I am charmed by the great illustrations.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Three Little Pigs Version
This is a different kind of little pigs story, but I enjoyed reading it to my daughter. She and I loved it. I recommend it.
Published 5 months ago by Sylverdollar
5.0 out of 5 stars
SUMMER READING CLASSIC
My son had to read this, well I had to read to him over the summer before going into Kindergarten, a nice read with great illustration. Read more
Published 10 months ago by David J. Riebe
4.0 out of 5 stars
It's the real Little Pig Bad Wolf story
I like this story and my grandchildren enjoy the story and pictures, however they are still very small (less than 3 years). Read more
Published 14 months ago by Strawberryrain
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic!
Yes, Marshall has stayed true to the original story and the wolf eats up the two foolish pigs. A lesson in Darwinism? But my kids did not get nightmares. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Shannon Adams
5.0 out of 5 stars
Charming pictures
Our grandchildren enjoy this book as much as I do! The pictures are charming and the language modern.
Published on September 30, 2010 by retired teacher
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good Start, Slow Ending
I really loved the the way the book began. It kept my 2 1/2 year old's attention until after the 3rd Little Pig's stone house. Read more
Published on December 11, 2009 by Susan
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent version of a classic story
This version of The Three Little Pigs is witty, engaging, and easy for younger listeners to follow. The illustrations are also fantastic; fans of James Marshall will not be... Read more
Published on April 18, 2008 by D. Smith
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
