The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

📘 About This Book

THE MODERN CLASSIC WITH OVER THREE MILLION COPIES SOLD • The Big Bad Wolf tells his side in this fractured fairy tale, brought to life with irreverent storytelling and artwork that “older kids (and adults) will find very funny” (School Library Journal). A New York Times Best Book of the Year • American Booksellers Association Picture Book Hall of Fame • Society of Illustrators Silver Medal • New York Public Library 100 Great Children’s Books for 100 Years • An American Library Association Notable Book 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. 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. It ends in the Big House: the Pig Pen. What really happened when A. Wolf was at the door? Was it an historic pig out or a Mother Goose frame-up? You read it. You decide. Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith combine their talents for droll tales and provocative reporting to bring the true story of this much maligned figure to the public. Big and Bad? Could be. Hilarious? Of course.

📖 Summary

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka presents a clever and humorous retelling of a beloved traditional fairy tale, viewed entirely from the perspective of the infamous antagonist, A. Wolf. For generations, readers have accepted the standard account of the big bad wolf who maliciously huffed, puffed, and blew down the houses of three innocent little pigs. However, this modern classic invites readers to hear the other side of the story, completely dismantling the traditional narrative with wit, charm, and a hefty dose of irony. A. Wolf begins his defense by addressing the reader directly, arguing that his terrible reputation is entirely undeserved and the result of a massive misunderstanding. According to the wolf, the events that transpired all started innocently enough with a baking project. He wanted to bake a birthday cake for his dear old granny and simply needed to borrow a cup of sugar from his neighbors. Unfortunately, the wolf was suffering from a terrible head cold at the time, which proved to be his ultimate downfall. When he approached the house of straw belonging to the first little pig, he knocked on the door. Receiving no answer, he felt a sneeze coming on. Try as he might to hold it back, a massive sneeze erupted from him, accidentally blowing the flimsy straw house down entirely. To his shock, he discovered the first little pig dead in the wreckage, having succumbed to the elements or simply crushed by his own poor construction. Not wanting good food to go to waste, and operating under the practical philosophy of wolf nature, he ate the pig. The wolf then proceeded to the house of sticks belonging to the second little pig on a similar mission for sugar. Once again, his terrible head cold struck, another massive sneeze blew the stick house down, and the second little pig suffered the exact same unfortunate fate. A third pig lived in a house made of bricks, and when the wolf approached him to borrow sugar, the pig rudely insulted the wolf's granny. Enraged by the insult, the wolf tried to break the door down, screaming and shouting, which is when the reporters and police allegedly arrived on the scene. The wolf claims that the media sensationalized the entire event, twisting a simple sneeze and a tragic culinary coincidence into a tale of cold-blooded murder and villainy. He ends his tale from the confines of the Big House, known as the Pig Pen, where he remains imprisoned due to the biased accounts of the pigs and the press. Through this irreverent storytelling, Scieszka challenges young readers and adults alike to question established narratives, look at familiar situations from multiple viewpoints, and recognize how easily the truth can be distorted by those who control the story. With its clever framing and engaging tone, the book remains a celebrated picture book that continues to delight readers of all ages.

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Jon ScieszkaView all books →

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