The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by A. Wolf (Picture Puffin) (Paperback)

by Jon Scieszka (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
You may think you know the story of the "Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf" - but only one person knows the real story. And that person is A. Wolf. His tale starts with a birthday cake for his dear old granny, a bad head cold and a bad reputation. The rest (as they say) is history. This is a hilariously inventive retelling of the popular story which "Publishers Weekly" called the 'Funniest book of the year'.

About the Author
Jon Scieszka began to train as a doctor but left to take a course in fiction writing at Columbia University and to become a teacher. He lives in Brooklyn and spends his time writing and talking about books.Lane Smith, an acclaimed author/illustrator, has achieved major success in his collaborations with Jon Scieszka. He also provided the original concept and illustrations for the hit film James and the Giant Peach. He lives in New York.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Books (April 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140540563
• ISBN-13: 978-0140540567
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #88,572 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, entertaining, fun to read to your children!, January 23, 2003

By	Amy Bender (Somerset, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this book for my son when he was probably around 6 or 7 years old. (or 8? My memory fails me.) He has since grown into a teenager with a great sense of humor, and I believe that books like this one helped shape that! This is the tale of what happened to the three little pigs, from the wolf's point of view. It's funny how the wolf tries to appeal to the readers' sympathies, as he describes how he's simply been misunderstood all these years! This book may be your child's introduction to sarcasm, so make sure they are old enough to "get it". I always enjoyed reading this one out loud to my son!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who's afraid of Mr. Alexander T. Wolf?, May 11, 2004

By	E. R. Bird "Ramseelbird" (Manhattan, NY) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Authors these days are constantly reinterpreting old fairy tales and nursery rhymes to spice them up, repackage them, and sell them as something new. Credit this idea, in part, to the illustrious Jon Scieszka (a free cup of sugar to anyone who pronounces his name correctly) and illustrator Lane Smith. Together, these two have successfully rendered the world of nursery-dom topsy turvey, beginning with the clever, "The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!". At long last, the viewer has a chance to look past the biased press and (undoubtedly) stacked juries to hear the true story from the lips of Mr. Alexander T. Wolf himself.

As Wolf puts it, the whole thing was just a big misunderstanding. One of those events that get blown way out of proportion. See, it's like this... the wolf was just looking to borrow a cup of sugar for his poor bed-ridden granny. He wanted to make a cake for her, but finding himself lacking the necessary ingredients he went to his nearest neighbor to borrow some. Now here's where it all went higgledy-piggledy. The pig (living in a straw home) didn't answer the door and the wolf had a bad cold. By pure bad luck he accidentally sneezed the home down and, in effect, killed the pig. Thinking it a bad idea to waste pork, the wolf ate the pig and decided to try another neighbor. And so it went until he got to the brick house and was shortly, thereafter, arrested. Poor poor wolfie.

Here's what you have to contend with if you read this book to l'il uns. Yes, you have a wolf eating pigs. Which is, to be fair, what wolves do. Now you never see the wolf actually put each pig in his mouth. And you never see the pig's faces prior to their devourement. So, frankly, how much worse is this than your average fairy tale? Trust me, the kids'll get over it. After all, the book is aligned in such a way that your sympathies really do side with the wolf himself. I was especially amused by the book's take on the "biased" media. Says the wolf, the truth was kind of dull, "So they jazzed up the story with all of that `Huff and puff and blow your house down.' And they made me the Big Bad Wolf".

Aside from the great story, Lane Smith really did a nice job with the illustrations on this one. Tiny details spot every scene. Notice, if you will, the brick car parked next to the third pig's brick house. Notice that all the reporters are pigs (as is the jailor at the end). Best of all, check out the wolf's portrait of his grandmother looking suspiciously like another wolf of classic lore.

It's a great book and an amusing (if somewhat overdone these days) story. Like a good ironic twisty tale? Enjoy seeing a fairy tale creature protesting the media? Dislike pigs? Then pull a chair up and take a gander at that wonderful 1989 concoction, "The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!". It's a doozy.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, June 19, 2003

By	L A Spillane-Larke (Orlando, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs (Viking Kestrel picture books) (Hardcover)

This totally engaging book would appeal to young and old alike. The Big Bad Wolf portrays himself as the innocent victim of a huge misunderstanding. He actually seems like a cool con man.
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs would be a great read aloud and could be used as a wonderful example of compare and contrast when used in conjuction with The Three Little Pigs.