Alaska's Three Pigs

From School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 3-This nicely designed book holds promise in its concept, but falls a bit flat in its execution. The premise is fun: the three little pigs go Alaskan with a starring role for a grizzly bear in place of the wolf. Unfortunately, Laverde's story is wordy and not smoothly written. Despite the use of energetic fonts to highlight key words, the text lacks the snap found in Dwyer's cartoon artwork. Set off by decorative borders, the colorful illustrations provide a few humorous visual details, e.g., the homesteading pigs are provisioned with an endless supply of canned yams, instead of Spam. However, the traditional brick house is replaced with a crystal-clear ice igloo, reinforcing an unfortunate stereotype of Alaska. Sharp-eyed readers will wonder why the huffing and puffing grizzly freezes into a Denali-sized (rectangular) ice cube after falling into a (presumably round) barrel of melted snow water. There may be a demand for this title in Alaskan libraries or in collections seeking variants on the popular tale, but this retelling does not live up to the example set by Jon Scieszka's wonderfully original The True Story of the Three Little Pigs (Viking, 1989).-Sue Sherif, Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Library, AKCopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


Book Description
The newest addition to the Paws IV line of Alaska children's books features the classic story of those irresistible little pigs--retold Alaskan-style, as the pigs camp, fish, ski, and build homes on the Last Frontier! "Once upon a time in the wilds of Alaska, there were three little pigs." And so begins the adventure of three outdoor-loving pigs who head to Alaska to homestead and "grow big cabbages." After playing under the Midnight Sun, it's time to get busy and build safe homes for the winter. The first and second little pigs are creative, but it's the third hardworking little pig who uses solid glacier ice: a good thing when a hungry grizzly bear is awakened! This delightful take on the original is full of Alaska details and is sure to charm readers of all ages.


Card catalog description
Three pig brothers go to Alaska to build themselves new homes--with familiar results.


About the Author
Arlene Laverde is an elementary schoolteacher, and this is her first book. Artist Mindy Dwyer is an award-winning author/illustrator of two books for children; she lives in Anchorage, Alaska.


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The classic children's fairy tale of the three little pigs is transplanted to Alaska in this superbly illustrated (Mindy Dwyer), engaging story by Arlene Laverde. After playing under the Midnight Sun, it's time to get busy and build safe homes for the winter. The first and second little pigs are creative, but it's the third hardworking little pig who uses solid glacier ice a good thing when a hungry grizzly bear is awakened! Ideal for young readers ages 5 to 8, Alaska's Three Pigs is enhanced with Alaskan details that enhance the charm and novelty of this truly splendid picturebook.


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