The Three Pigs

Author: David Wiesner
Illustrator: David Wiesner
Publisher: Clarion
Date: 2002
Awards: ALA Notable Children's Books (2002), Caldecott Medal (2002)
Ages: 4-8
Topics: pigs, wolf, fairy tales, folklore
Summary: Although the story begins like the classic Three Little Pigs, the story evolves into something much different. The three pigs escape the wolf by going into another world where they meet the cat and the fiddle, the cow that jumped over the moon, and a dragon.

Book Connections

• The Three Pigs from Houghton Mifflin
  Provides an overview, pictures, and reviews. Includes large image of the wolf and pigs on paper airplane.
• The Little Pigs from Wikipedia
  Explore different versions of The Little Pigs story.
• Three Little Pig Variants from Allen County Public Library
  Booklist providing traditional and humorous retellings

Topic Connections

Pigs

• Pigs from Wikipedia
• Pig Pictures from Wikimedia Commons
• Pigs from Enchanted Learning
• Pigs as Pets
• Port 4 Kids
  • All About Pigs
  • Take a Farm Tour from Pork 4 Kids
• The Joy of Pigs from Nature and PBS

Drawing Pigs

• How to cartoon a pig

Learning Connections

• Online Reading. Read the traditional version of the Three Little Pig , the Annotated Three Little Pigs, Three Little Pigs: The Colorful Story Book, Three Little Pigs and other Folktales, The Wolf and the Seven Young Kids online. Also, read a modern version of the Three Little Pigs.
• Online Listening. Listen to the story The Three Little Pigs from Storynory. Listen to the song "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf."
• Pigs in Fiction. Compare the pigs in this book to other pigs in fiction. Use the list of fictional pigs from Wikipedia to get started.
• Alternative Views. Read The Wolf's Side of the Story. Write another version.
• Fractured Fairy Tales. Read other books that have alternative versions of The Three Little Pigs such as as the cajun version called Les Trois Cochon or The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Powell. Write your own version.
• Pigs Who Fly. In the story, the pigs flew in a paper airplane. Imagine another story with pigs using a different type of transportation. Also, explore other stories where animals ride in vehicles such as Sheep in a Jeep.
• Who Else? The pigs stumbled into other fairy tales such as the "cat and the fiddle". What other story fairytale characters or setting could the pigs rescue?
• Pig Illustration. Pigs are often used in stories. Create your own pig characters. Use the drawing links for help.

Teaching Connections

• Try lessons related to economics
  • The Costs and Benefits of 'The Three Little Pigs"
• Try lessons related to pigs and math
  • Pigging Out and Pigging Out (PDF)
  • Three Little Pig Word problems
• Try lessons related to science
  • Materials and Manufacturing
  • The Three Little Pigs: A Design Exploration for Lower Level Students
  • Three Little Pigs in Earthquake Land
• Try lessons related to English topics
  • Critical Literacy: Point of View
  • Stereotyping and Bias: The Three Little Pigs, The Big Bad Wolf
• Try lessons related to fractured fairy tales
  • Fractured Fairy Tales & Fables with John Scieszka from Scholastic
  • Engaging Students in Read-Alouds Using Fractured Texas Tales
  • Fractured Fairy Tales Booklist (PDF)
  • The Three Little Pigs: Alternative versions
• Try lessons with technology connections:
  • The Three Pigs, Technology Style
• Try lessons related to pigs:
  • Mini-Unit on Pigs
  • Pig Hotlist
  • Pig-Mania
  • Pig Theme links
• Try lessons related to the traditional Three Little Pigs story:
  • Bits and Pieces
  • Comparing and Contrasting the Three Little Pigs
  • Comparing Tales through Performance
  • Construction Ahead
  • Folktale Unit: the True Story of the Three Little Pigs
  • The Three Little Pigs Retelling
  • The Three Little Pigs: Lesson Ideas
  • A "Tail" to Tell
  • The Three Pigs from Vicki Blackwell

Learn More

Do a Thinkfinity search for lessons related to pigs.

 

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