Three Little Pigs (Bedtime Classics Library)

Rather than suffer the fate of his two brothers, a pig cleverly outwits a persistent wolf once and for all.

PreSchool-K This version of the Three Little Pigs is a reproduction of what the publisher calls ``a classic old edition'' (original date not given). The illustrations are indeed old-fashioned and charming, with muted colors and a style reminiscent of Caldecott, and the retelling is faithful to the oral tradition. The story begins with the wonderful introductory line, ``Once upon a time, when pigs could talk and no one had ever heard of bacon, there lived an old piggy mother with her three little sons, Spotty, Curly-tail and Little Runt.'' The ending is equally classic: ``Then he boiled the wolf, and ate him for supper, and after that he lived quietly and comfortably all his days, and was never troubled again!'' While one of the positive features of this version is its adherence to the oral tradition in telling the story, the storyline includes the wolf consuming the two brother pigs and being, in turn, consumed by the remaining pig. Hardly what those concerned with violence in children's literature would call nonviolent! All in all, a better than average version of this often retold tale. Constance A. Mellon, Department of Library & Information Studies, East Carolina Univ . , Greenville, N.C.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.