The Three Pigs by David Weisner

In this fractured fairy tale, the three little pigs escape the pages of their folktale and have an adventure going to other stories. Along the way, they recruit other characters from their stories. In the end, they go home with their new friends and live happily ever after.

Wiesner used a series of framed illustrations to initially tell the story and allow the characters to escape into the white background. After escaping, his illustrations depict the pigs crumpling the pages, knocking them over and even folding one into paper airplane. By using frames for the illustrations of the traditional tale, an alternate reality was created in the white background. Additionally, when the pigs are out on their adventure, the text is dialogue in speech bubbles as the characters interact. The dialogue and speech bubbles when contrasted with the narrative text within the illustrated frames also adds to the alternate reality Wiesner creates for the pigs.

The Three Pigs is intended for older audiences. Readers must have knowledge of other folktales and be able to step outside the traditional story structure to understand and appreciate the book. I think it would be lost on many elementary aged students. Additionally, teachers would be hardpressed to give the book justice as a read-aloud. Kids will have to wait to read it on their own in order to truly enjoy the story.

The Three Pigs represents a step away from traditional story telling by an author/illustrator who thinks outside the box.