I was so taken by the three little pigs on the cover of The Three Little Pigs Retold and Illustrated by Steven Kellogg (1997) that it was weeks before I noticed the wolf. Can you find it? The cover is captivating. Why do these pigs have a huge waffle? How will Stephen Kellogg retell this classic?
On the title page, a paper airplane flies in through a window—it read HELP, SAVE ME. The surprised recipient is so startled that whatever was on her fork is now falling back onto her plate, which means her entire body startled in response to the paper airplane that’s about to land on her lunch.
On the first page of the story, we discover that Kellogg’s writing is as well-crafted as his illustrations. The characters, setting, and problem are described four sentences loaded with alliteration. Serafina Sow wants to bring waffles into the world to support her family of three piglets. This enterprising pig designs and builds a waffle iron on wheels, then drives from hamlet to hamlet selling waffles. Serafina’s piglets eventually graduate from school and retires to the Gulf of Pasta. The three pigs take over the business. One day, along comes a wolf named Tempesto, giving the story a classic feel. In Kellogg’s version of the story, Serafina Sow comes to the rescue.
You’ll need to read the book to learn what happens to Tempesto. Let’s just say he gives up a life of crime.
