It's Not the Three Little Pigs

Funk, J. (2022). It's Not the Three Little Pigs. Amazon Publishing. ISBN 9781542032438

“Meet the three (ahem―four!) little pigs as they convince the narrator to tell a slightly different version of their fairy tale: First, there’s Alan, the one pig in the bunch who is actually a builder. He’s got a BIG problem with building a home out of flimsy straw. Next, there’s Alfred, who wants to be an actor and wouldn’t dream of getting his hands dirty. Then we have Alvin, whose dream is to be…a pumpkin. Last but not least is Alison, the fourth pig, who is ready to bring some flair to this story―if only she can get the narrator to agree to a few changes…And what about that wolf?”
(Funk, n.d.)


It’s Not the Three Little Pigs is the fourth book in a series titled It’s Not a Fairy Tale. Other stories in the series include Jack and the Beanstalk, Hansel and Gretel, and Little Red Riding Hood. The illustrations for this non-traditional re-telling of The Three Little Pigs are detailed and colorful. The ‘fourth pig’ and the narrator have a contentious dialogue as they banter back and forth about the details of the story. The text is written in speech bubbles for all characters, excluding the narrator, which make the dialogue easy to follow. Blueprints detailing the pigs architectural designs are fun and unexpected. It is a fun read with a surprise appearance by Cinderella’s fairy godmother. At the end of the story the fourth pig, Alison, says, “Maybe the moral is that not all stories have morals. Or maybe the audience can decide for themselves.” It’s an interesting take if you believe that the moral of the story is an integral tenet of a fairy tale. Overall, It’s Not the Three Pigs is a fun read with likable characters and detailed illustrations.

Book Review Excerpts:

“Those who love to make up their own stories will be inspired, and readers who march to the beats of their own drums will be delighted. Will leave readers as happy as a pig in mud.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Boisterous digital renderings capture the figures’ glee as they go their own ways for an effect that spotlights the twice-told tale’s whirlwind qualities.” ―Publishers Weekly

Connections:

-This book would complement an SEL lesson about creativity, or self confidence.

- This would be a good book to read then let the students experiment with writing their own dialogue. Let the students fill in the speech bubbles to change the trajectory of the story.

References:

Funk, J. (n.d.). It's Not the Three Little Pigs by Josh Funk & Edwardian Taylor | Books. Josh Funk Books. Retrieved June 17, 2023, from https://www.joshfunkbooks.com/its-not-the-three-little-pigs


This review was created as an assignment for SHSU LSSL 5360.