THE THREE LITTLE PIGS AND THE SOMEWHAT BAD WOLF by Mark Teague

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A traditional tale is updated with modern sensibilities in The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf. Author and illustrator Mark Teague has reimagined the well-known children’s story of the three pigs and created a fractured fairy tale that is recognizably true to the original version, yet full of amusing new twists. In this silly spoof, the farmer retires from his farm and releases the pigs into the real world where they must make it on their own. The first two pigs are more interested in buying snack foods and build their houses out of cheap materials. The third pig wisely spends all her money on bricks and builds a strong secure home. Predictably, a hungry wolf comes along when he finds all his favorite fast food joints closed. It also comes as no surprise that the wolf is able to blow down the first two pigs' houses. When the wolf can't penetrate the well-built abode, everyone moves in with the third pig and this is where the fun begins. The first two pigs give him potato chips and “sody-pop”, while the third pig cooks everyone a healthy meal fresh from her vegetable garden. The somewhat bad wolf is no longer hungry and not as big or bad as he appeared to be.

Teague has cleverly recreated the famous children’s fable for contemporary audiences. He has stayed true to the genre by keeping the focus on the animals’ behavior through which readers can learn the usual morals—along with the additional lesson of eating healthy foods. Kirkus hails that Teague’s pigs are “… full of personality, and their human traits and accessories are sure to delight”. The author also maintained the storyline of the original three pigs who find themselves in a quick, predictable episode of action filled with obstacles and a satisfying resolution. He upheld the use of things occurring in threes as well as the pattern of repeated phrases, both literary devices which characterize traditional fairy tales. The large bold illustrations accompanying the huffing puffing action of the story are filled with amusing details that are perfect sharing aloud. Publishers Weekly agrees, “the clever details in [Teague’s] creamy, textured oil paintings” expresses the pigs’ trouble and the wolf’s frustration in a delightful way.  

Mark Teague is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator whose books include the New York Times bestselling series How Do Dinosaurs, written by Jane Yolen.

Older children can enjoy comparing and contrasting this traditional story with different fractured versions including Jon Sciezka’s The True Story of the Three Little Pigs or Eugene Trivisas’ The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig.

Books in Print. TWU Library. Accessed September 24, 2013 http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125