The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! [Hardcover]

Jon Scieszka (Author), Lane Smith (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up

One of the most popular books of the decade comes with a brand-new introduction....

Ten years in the pen and the wolf still says he didn't do it....

It's been ten years since Alexander T. Wolf told the story of the three little pigs--the true story, that is. Now in this tenth anniversary edition of a book that made publishing history, Alexander T. Wolf has added another chapter to his story--a perspective looking back on his ten long years in the pen.

Including a brand-new jacket by Caldecott Honor artist Lane Smith, the tenth anniversary edition of this contemporary classic will be available for a limited time only.

* An ABBY Honor Book
* ALA Notable Children's Book
* A New York Times Best Book of the Year
* Association of Booksellers for Children Choice
* Silver Medal, Society of Illustrators
* Parenting's Reading-Magic Award
* Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List
* Publishers Weekly Top Selling Kids Books of all Time List

"A tasty treat."--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)

"Elegantly sophisticated illustrations...suitably mordant humor."-- Kirkus Reviews

"A gaily newfangled version...designed with uncommon flair."--Publishers Weekly

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"There has obviously been some kind of mistake," writes Alexander T. Wolf from the pig penitentiary where he's doing time for his alleged crimes of 10 years ago. Here is the "real" story of the three little pigs whose houses are huffed and puffed to smithereens... from the wolf's perspective. This poor, much maligned wolf has gotten a bad rap. He just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, with a sneezy cold, innocently trying to borrow a cup of sugar to make his granny a cake. Is it his fault those ham dinners--rather, pigs--build such flimsy homes? Sheesh.

This 10th-anniversary edition of Jon Scieszka's New York Times Best Book of the Year, The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!, includes a special, impassioned letter from prisoner A. Wolf himself and a snappy new jacket by Caldecott Honor artist Lane Smith, whose quirky perspectives still color the illustrations throughout. As with The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, the collaborators take a classic story and send it through the wisecracker machine, much to the glee of kids young and old. (Ages 4 to 8 or much, much older) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly

"Designed with uncommon flair," said PW, this "gaily newfangled version of the classic tale" takes sides with the villain. "Imaginative watercolors eschew realism, further updating the tale." A Spanish-language reprint will be issued simultaneously ($4.99, -055758-X). Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile; Anv edition (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670888443
• ISBN-13: 978-0670888443
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (191 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,124,652 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a blast to read this one aloud!!, November 8, 2004

By 

T. Avallone (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs (Paperback)

Sure it's a good way to get your youngsters to start to think about the possibility that there is more than one "side" to a story, but that would just make this book sound "educational" and where would be the fun in THAT!?

This book is a delightful story that lends itself to ridiculous levels of "hamming" things up when reading it aloud. Poor, poor wolf with the terrible cold that just needs to bake a cake for his dear old granny. Even my oldest child (12 yob) sticks around to hear me read this "one more time" to my younger children.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautifully done spoof on the 3 Little Pigs!, November 3, 1999

By 

Margaret Fiore - See all my reviews

This review is from: The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! (Hardcover)

This is an irresistibly silly, great work of comic art!

Yes indeed, there is always another side to a story! A. Wolf explains his side of the classic tale in an almost plausible and sympathetic way. It was all an accident! It wasn't his fault! He didn't mean to sneeze those flimsy little houses down, and now would you have him walk away from a perfectly good ham dinner?

This book is great fun to read, and the art contains amazing little extras that add another layer to the humor. Of course, the audience has to know the old version of the 3 Little Pigs story; not one of the modern, watered-down, nobody-gets-hurt modified versions...

A perennial favorite.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Max's Book Review, May 25, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs (Paperback)

I read the book, "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs" by Jon Scieszka. This is a fantastic childrens' book based on the original story of the three little pigs. I really enjoyed the creative, detailed illustrations and the interesting plot. According to this version of "The Three Little Pigs", the wolf is completely innocent. I also liked the fluent writing style of the book. Reading this book, you gain the understanding of the wolf's side of the story, which is not often read. I would recommend "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs" to someone who enjoys humorous books. I think that this book is one that both parents and children can enjoy reading together! I really enjoyed this book and i think you will to!