The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs

Title: The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs

Author: Jon Scieszka

Illustrator: Lane Smith

Genre: Traditional Literature

Awards: Bluebonnet Award master list (1992) and American Library Association (ALA) Notable Book

Age Group: 4-8 years

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs goes through the same story we all know and love, but from the point-of-view of Alexander T. Wolf. It all starts out when he has a bad cold and is trying to bake a cake for his granny. If only he had the last cup of sugar that he needs! He decides to visit each of the three little pigs and ask for some sugar. By the end, he has blown a straw house and a stick house down and has eaten two of the little pigs. Not a great record! He is promptly arrested and put in jail, of course out of no wrongdoing of his own! Rumor has it he is still behind bars today, asking for his last cup of sugar...

I can definitely see myself using this book in my classroom! I have fond memories of this book as a kid, and it is just different enough to make it extra exciting for students who have heard the story of the three little pigs countless times! It has some attitude and spunk in it, which is sure to have the kids cracking up. 

I would say that anywhere from four to eight would be a good age for this book! It is simple, repetitive, and has lots of funny illustrations. It definitely has the type of humor that little kids love! It also poses the question of what it means to do something right or wrong which is perfect for that age group.

One idea for how to use this book in the classroom would be to have students create their own little news article all about the wolf. In the book it shows a news article at the end from The Daily Pig, but students could invent their own name and story deciding whether or not they can trust the wolf's tale. They could even include interviews with the one remaining little pig or even the wolf himself.