THE THREE PIGS by David Wiesner

Bibliography

Wiesner, David. 2001. The Three Pigs. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 0618007016

Summary

As this story traditionally begins, three pigs set off to find their fortune when the big bad wolf comes along to blow their houses away. This time he literally blows them away . . . and out of the pages of the story. The wolf appears perplexed as his dinner has disappeared right before his eyes. The three pigs, now on their own adventure, set off to invade other stories, drawing out a character here and there, saving some from their doomed fates of their own stories.  When the three pigs decide it is time to go back to their own story, some of the friends they have made along the way decide to go with them. What will the wolf think of that?

Critical Analysis
Wiesner's unconventional retelling of this traditional tale pulls the reader out of the story along with the characters. While the beginning and ending hold true to the traditional story line, Wiesner takes us on a paper airplane ride into the pages of other stories. Wiesner depicts the wolf's reactions brilliantly on each page as the words indicate that he "ate the pig up," but he is standing there perplexed as to where his dinner actually went.

The change in Wiesner's illustrations as the characters move in and out of their real stories adds another dimension to guide the reader through the space and time he has created. The way he incorporates some of his other works such as Tuesday and The Loathsome Dragon (with Kim Kahng), bring the reader into Wiesner's fictional world and make the reader want to discover more.

Review Excerpts

2002 Caldecott Medal winner

New York Times Book Review  - "Wiesner's dialogue and illustrations are clever, whimsical and sophisticated. . . ." - Sean Kelly

Horn Book Magazine - "Wiesner's postmodern interpretation of this tale plays imaginatively with traditional picture book and story conventions and with readers' expectations of both." - Kitty Flynn

Connections

 This version of the story would make a great compare/contrast with a more traditional version such as:

            The Three Little Pigs by Paul Galdone ISBN 0899192750

It could also make a great unit study by reading several different versions that twist the tale such as:

            The Three Little Pigs by Steven Kellogg ISBN 0064437795

            The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka ISBN 0140544518

Make this into a reader’s theater for students. It could be easily modified for various grade/reading levels.

I think it would also be great to find several of the stories that are incorporated into this tale and tie them all together to see that the real fate of those characters as it happens in their stories. Two of the stories depicted are:
             Tuesday by David Wiesner ISBN 0395870828
             The Loathsome Dragon by Kim Khang and David Wiesner ISBN 0618543597

THE GINGERBREAD MAN retold by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Megan Lloyd

Bibliography

Kimmel, Eric A. 1993. The Gingerbread Man. Ill. by Megan Lloyd. New York, NY: Holiday House. ISBN 0823411370

Summary

An old woman and an old man make a man out of gingerbread, complete with licorice, icing and peppermint trimmings. They plan to eat him until he suddenly pops up and runs from them, teasing them with his chant “You can’t catch me. I’m the gingerbread man!” The gingerbread man makes his way through the country past a sow, dog, horse and cow. They all join in with the man and woman to chase the gingerbread man. Until he meets a sly fox that convinces the gingerbread man he will help him escape across the river. But the sly fox is not quite as noble as he first appears.

Critical Analysis

Kimmel's retelling of this traditional story about a gingerbread man that comes to life and sends both man and animal chasing after it has such rhythm that children and adults can't help but fall in love with this story again. The gingerbread's refrain of "Ill run and run as fast as I can. You can't catch me. I'm the gingerbread man." is perfectly balanced so that every time it repeats, even with the additions of the various characters chasing the gingerbread man, the reader almost wants to sing it out. Even Kimmel's word choice of using "sow" instead of pig adds an element of poetry to the story.

Lloyd's illustrations add a humorous quality, especially in the way the characters faces are depicted on each page. The smug smile the gingerbread man has on each page as he escapes yet another pursuer turns into shock as realizes he may have met his match. The emotions bring the character to life. The combination of Kimmel's storytelling and Lloyds artistic talent make this retelling a must have in every library.

Review Excerpts

From School Library Journal – “Kimmel brings humor and warmth to the retelling of this spicy classic.” – Elizabeth Hanson

From Horn Book Guide – “Delightful watercolors capture with humor the movement and pace of the story, making this a pleasant addition to any collection.”

Connections

For younger audience, this version makes for a wonderful sequencing activity.

Turn this into a reader’s theater.

I read this story to my class as we were working on the rhythm of stories and they were able to chime in quickly with the refrain “I’ll run and run as fast as I can. You can’t catch me. I’m the gingerbread man!” They loved to share the story with me. 

JOSEPH HAD A LITTLE OVERCOAT by Simms Taback

Bibliography

Taback, Simms. 1999. Joseph had a Little Overcoat. New York, NY: Viking. ISBN 0670878553

Summary

Joseph had an overcoat. Over time, it become old and worn, but instead of just throwing it out, he makes it into a … jacket. When the jacket becomes old and worn Joseph turns it into something else. Joseph continues turning each garment into something new, until there is nothing left. But is nothing really the end to Joseph’s overcoat?

Critical Analysis

Simms Taback takes a traditional Yiddish folk song and turns it into a beautiful story with rich, detailed illustrations. The story has a repetitive refrain that children love to recite. As the reader approaches the end, instead of being able to begin the next page with "So he made a . . ." he realizes there is nothing left; the reader can feel the sadness that is shown on Joseph's face as well as the animals who have come along for the journey. Thankfully Taback continues the story to teach us that just because it seems like there is nothing left, it doesn't mean you can't get something out of it.

Taback's illustrations alone bring the story to life. They are vibrant and almost move on their own. The die-cut holes that show the transition from one piece to another add another dimension that catapults the illustrations into award winning perfection.

Review Excerpts

2000 Caldecott Medal winner

From Booklist – “Taback's mixed-media and collage illustrations are alive with warmth, humor, and humanity.” – Tim Arnold.

From Horn Book Magazine - “Don't you lose it: clever, visually engrossing, poignant, it's worth holding on to." – Martha Parravano

Connections

 This would make a great story to read around Earth Day. It could be connected to reusing old things that aren't completely worn out. For an in class project, students could pick from a variety of old things and turn them into something new. I would love to do an at-home project to get the families involved with turning something they have that is old into something new and useful.

I have used this story in the past for retelling. We acted out our retelling with each “new” piece on card and the students chanting the refrain “It got old and worn. So he made . . .” They loved it!

My students also fell in love with the way the book was illustrated. They loved the die-cut holes that allowed the overcoat to change throughout the story. They tried to illustrate their own stories that way and found it very hard to match their holes on one page with the illustration on the other. They had a blast trying it and I was impressed to see the problem solving they used to try and make it work.

GRANDPA GREEN by Lane Smith

Bibliography

Smith, Lane. 2011. Grandpa Green. New York, New York: Roaring Brook Press.

Summary

Grandpa Green was a boy with chicken pox, a soldier, a husband, father and grandfather. While he can’t always share his memories aloud, he lets his garden tell the story of his life.

Critical Analysis

Memories come alive through a topiary garden. A great-grandson is taken down memory lane through Grandpa Green’s garden. The reader is taken through an old man’s memory piece by piece, until the complete story is revealed. This is a story that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Anyone who is interested in their family history will enjoy this creative look at Grandpa Green’s life.

The story would not be complete without the imaginative illustrations from Lane Smith. Green, in both name and color, this story unfolds with pops of excitement brought out in splashes of red – chicken pox berries, a flowery bow, leaves of fire, a heart of roses. The simple line drawings and dominating topiary illustrations help this story unfold.

Review Excerpts

2012 Caldecott Honor

School Library Journal – “A clever premise, brilliant pacing, and whimsical illustrations…”

Kirkus Review – “Readers who slow down will be rewarded by this visual feast that grows richer with each visit.”

Connections

Use as an introduction to a family history project.

Have students think of a happy memory and imagine how it would look as a topiary. Then have them draw or use a variety of media such as construction paper and tissue paper to create their own topiary memory.

Read more on how topiaries are created.

WHERE IS TIPPY TOES? by Betsy Lewin

Bibliography

Lewin, Betsy. 2010. Where is Tippy Toes?. New York, New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Summary

Everyone knows how this curious and mischievous cat, Tippy Toes, spends his days – chasing mice, running from the garden hose, and napping in a cozy drawer. But only one know where Tippy Toes goes as darkness falls. 

Critical Analysis

From the illustrator of the Caldecott Honor book: Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type comes a fun tale of a mischievous cat. The rhythmic cadence of this story immediately draws the reader in. The tale of a cat’s daily adventures makes for a wonderful bedtime read.

Not only do Lewin’s watercolors make Tippy Toes come to life, but the whole illustrative design, with the use of die-cut pages that give a sneak peek into what might be coming, make this book more interesting.

Review Excerpts

From Publisher’s Weekly - Lewin's (Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type) smudgy watercolors--traced with bold, chalky outlines--convey Tippy's ever-inquisitive but lovable feline nature

From School Library Journal – “This cat’s sun up to sun down routine makes an excellent choice for those looking for a new bedtime story.” –Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada

Connections

For young children, this is a great book to use when studying rhythm and rhyme in literature.

Read other books by Betsy Lewin:

            You Can Do It! – ISBN 0823430553

            Chubbo’s Pool – ISBN 039572807X

Look at Betsy Lewin’s illustration technique using watercolor and have the students illustrate one of their stories using watercolors. 

MILLIONS OF CATS by Wanda Gag

Bibliography

Gag, Wanda. 1928. Millions of Cats. New York, New York: The Penguin Group.

Summary

A very little old man and woman lead a simple but lonely life. In order to have a happier life, the little old woman sends the little old man in search of the perfect cat. When the little old man finds a hill full of cats, he returns with more than the little old woman bargained for and they have to figure out a way to choose the most perfect cat for them.

Critical Analysis

This story starts with the somber mood created by a lonely couple. As they plan to find companionship in a “sweet little fluffy cat” and the man discovers a hill full of cats, the reader feels the same sense of hope that man must have. Excitement builds as the refrain “hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats” is introduced. The reader is full of anticipation as the man cannot seem to pick just one cat from so many. Then, as he arrives home with his hoard of kittens, the reader begins to wonder, just as the little old woman does, how ever will they be able to care for such herd.

The illustrations, while black and white, give just enough detail to tell the story. The drawings give illusion to the distance the little old man must have traveled over hills and through valleys. Gag also does a wonderful job of helping the reader picture what millions of cats might actually look like.

Review Excerpts

1929 Newbery Honor

Top 100 Picture Books #21 by School Library Journal

From School Library Journal - "A classic, that could make anyone a cat lover." – Pat Vasilik

Connections

Read other books by Wanda Gag:

            ABC Bunny – ISBN 0816644160

            The Funny Thing – ISBN 0816642419

Use as a descriptive writing prompt. Have the students write about what the most beautiful cat (or any animal) would be to them.