The Three Little Pigs

by Bernadette Watts

Overview

A retelling of the classic battle of wits–The Three Little Pigs–with illustrations by the legendary European artist Bernadette Watts that will charm you up to your chinny-chin-chin!

Bernadette Watts brings one of the most beloved fairy tales to life with her colorful and delightfully detailed illustrations. Retelling it with all of the pluck and charm of the classic tale, Watts ensures that everything ends happily and no one gets eaten!

In addition to the adorable pigs and the expressive big bad wolf, a bevy of endearing animals befriend the little pigs and add enchantment to this story time favorite.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780735844681
Publisher:	NorthSouth Books
Publication date:	10/08/2024
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	0.34(w) x 0.43(h) x (d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Bernadette Watts, known throughout Europe simply as Bernadette, has illustrated many dozens of folk- and fairy tales. Born in England, she loved to draw from childhood. She studied at the Maidstone Art School in Kent, UK, and for some time was taught by Brian Wildsmith and David Hockney. Bernadette’s many beautiful books include The Snow Queen and The Little Drummer Boy. Bernadette finds her inspiration in nature. Today she lives and works in Kent. She has been illustrating for NorthSouth Books and NordSüd Verlag since the beginning of her career fifty years ago.

Editorial Reviews

In this telling of the classic story, a mother pig sends her three sons out into the world to seek their fortunes. The first little pig makes a house of straw, the second builds a house of sticks, and the third constructs a brick house. The wolf blows down the first two homes but, foiled by smoke pouring from the third pig’s chimney, he runs into the forest and is never seen again. The third pig brings his mother and brothers to stay in the sturdy brick house. The text reads aloud well and, though some will miss the rough justice of the traditional version, many parents will appreciate that the pigs and even the wolf escape in the end. There is plenty of dramatic action in the line-and-watercolor artwork, which depicts the countryside in autumn as warmly lit and full of small animals observing and reacting to events and living their own intriguing lives. A fine picture-book version of a favorite nursery tale.

Booklist

"A marvelous offering that begs to be added to everyone's storytelling repertoire. "-School Library Journal review for Watt's Little Red Riding Hood.

From the Publisher

K-Gr 3—With any retelling of a well-known tale, success is often in the details. Here, Watts's illustrations incorporate bright reds and yellows to liven up this old favorite while adding humor and personality to the forest minutiae. Each pig's accessories and animal companions give clues to his personality and common sense (or lack thereof). The first brother carries a guitar, the flock of songbirds at his straw house hinting at his free spirit, whereas the second brother's paintbrushes and stick house attract squirrels preparing for winter. The third brother's brick house and sensible chicken coop were no doubt painstakingly constructed with his trusty shovel and tools. After the pesky wolf has done his huffing and puffing and is sent running for the forest, the reunion between mother pig and her sons is as warm and satisfying as her freshly baked pie looks. While not extraordinary in the retelling, the art earns this adaptation a place in the good company of other pig trio tales.—Jenna Boles, Washington-Centerville Public Library, OH

School Library Journal

A candy-colored version of the classic tale completely lacks teeth and claws. The three little pigs' widowed mother sends them out into the world to make their way. The first, carrying his guitar on his back, begs a kind man for the straw he carries and builds himself a nice little house. The wolf comes by, the predictable conversation ensues and the piggy escapes. The second pig carries his brushes and papers, asks a kind man for some sticks and builds a place with an easel en plein air. The house has a convenient back door, so he too escapes when the wolf does his thing. The third pig, carrying his tools, is clearly into construction; his carefully built brick house (bricks a gift of a third kind man) is gorgeous. The wolf tries the chimney, is smoked out and runs away, the third pig collects his mom and siblings and they live happily ever after. Sunny colors and lots of cute details make for pleasant page-turning: Pig number two sits reading a version of Little Red Riding Hood in the last scene, possibly trying to track down the latest venue of the wolf. Devoid of energy, but greeting-card pretty. (Picture book/fairy tale. 4-6)

Kirkus Reviews