The Three Little Pigs
by Steven Kellog
( Check Catalog )

In this retelling of a well-known tale, Serafina Sow starts her own waffle-selling business in order to enable her three offspring to prepare for the future, which includes an encounter with a surly wolf.

Horn Book Guide Reviews 1998 (HG98)

Having raised three piglets with the money from her ingenious waffle cart, Serafina Sow retires, only to come rushing to the rescue when a wolf hoodlum threatens her children. As is characteristic in Kellogg's books, humorous details abound in both text and illustrations. Though the humor is not on the level we've come to expect from Kellogg, fans will be pleased with the wackiness of the story. Copyright 1998 Horn Book Guide Reviews

PW Reviews 1997 June #2 (P7F2)

Buoyant pictures and a pun-riddled text add gusto to Kellogg's lighthearted humor as he gives this classic caper more twists than are found in the average pig's tail. Pushing her waffle-making machine from "hamlet to hamlet," industrious Serafina Sow makes enough money to send her three little pigs a to Hog Hollow Academy. When she retires, the educated piglets build their fabled houses and run the wafflery until Tempesto the wolf (wearing a "Say Yes to Thugs" sweatshirt) arrives and instructs them to "butter yourselves and hop on the griddle." Serafina returns to bail out her brood and, in a final play on words, answers Tempesto's threat that "You'll soon be sausages!" with a triumphant "You'll soon be a WOLFFLE!" But the wry tale ends on a sunny note: rather than becoming brunch, this not-so-bad wolf gets to swap places with Serafina on a remote beach, sporting a new shirt (shown on the back cover) that proclaims "Thugs Need Hugs Too." Kids will have a jolly time poring over the particulars in the illustrations. And their mothers will cheer for Kellogg's decision to let his porcine matriarch hog the show. Ages 5-up. (Sept.) Copyright 1998 Publishers Weekly Reviews

SLJ Reviews 1997 September (SL7I)

This contemporary retelling features Serafina Sow, whose mission in life is to bring waffles to the world. After building a highly successful wafflery, she retires to the Gulf of Pasta, leaving the family business in the hands of her capable offspring, Percy, Pete, and Prudence. The three operate the business and build themselves comfortable homes of straw, wood, and brick, of course. Enter Tempesto, a thugish, leather-jacketed wolf. He orders the three pigs to cook themselves he isn't interested in waffles. Kellogg's usual busy, highly defined illustrations complement the humorous, clever text. In the satisfying, nonfatal ending, Serafina Sow returns from retirement to help her children defeat Tempesto, who has the meanness steamed out of him after coming down the chimney into the waffle iron. He is sent to the Gulf of Pasta in Serafina's place, where he spends his days as a mellow beach bum. A tempting choice to pair with Jon Scieszka's The True Story of the Three Little Pigs (Viking, 1989) and your favorite traditional version for porcine storytime fun. Copyright 1998 School Library Journal Reviews