A chile-flavored adaptation of The Three Little Pigs. The story takes place in the Sonoran Desert, where Native American, Mexican, and Anglo cultur...
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reviews
Oct 25, 2011
Amber
rated it: 
This book is one of my favorites. I got a chance to meet the author as a child and every time I read it all I can think about was how she read it to all of us with such a great reading voice. I really like this book because of how similar it is to the three little pigs. I think the students will also like this because they will be able to sort of predict what is coming next on the page but not know what REALLY is going to happen since it is a twist. As a teacher I would probably use this story a
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Jul 06, 2011
Jennie
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Age: 3-8
Genre: Bilingual picture book/ folk traditional tale
Diversity: Bilingual (Spanish/English)
Illustrations: Detailed images of the main characters and the desert setting. Anthropomorphized yet realistic depictions of the javelinas and coyote. Illustrations on pages opposite the text and smaller ones on pages containing text.
Personal Response: Having grown up in the Sonoran desert I appreciate the detail of the images. The story itself is an updat More...
Genre: Bilingual picture book/ folk traditional tale
Diversity: Bilingual (Spanish/English)
Illustrations: Detailed images of the main characters and the desert setting. Anthropomorphized yet realistic depictions of the javelinas and coyote. Illustrations on pages opposite the text and smaller ones on pages containing text.
Personal Response: Having grown up in the Sonoran desert I appreciate the detail of the images. The story itself is an updat More...
Jul 09, 2011
Veronica
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I read this one as my folktale as well. It was recommended to me by my boyfriend, who sort of grew up with the story.
I agree with what you say, Jennie. I also liked the modifications made to the story. I also liked the inclusion of the many cultures that make up the Southwest.
I don't however, consider this to be a bilingual book. Mabye it's just the edition I read, but all of it was in English, except for two words.
Also, I found the illustrations a tad off pu More...
I agree with what you say, Jennie. I also liked the modifications made to the story. I also liked the inclusion of the many cultures that make up the Southwest.
I don't however, consider this to be a bilingual book. Mabye it's just the edition I read, but all of it was in English, except for two words.
Also, I found the illustrations a tad off pu More...
Jun 28, 2011
Wanda
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“Once upon a time, way out in the desert, there were three little javelinas. Javelinas (ha-ve-LEE-nas) are wild, hairy, southwestern cousins of pigs.....”
No matter where I go, if I find a bookstore I have to check it out. That is how I came across this delightful retelling of the Three Little Pigs. My family had taken a vacation to the Big Bend National Park in Texas and I found this book in one of the souvenir shops at the park. I was immediately captivated by the artwork a More...
No matter where I go, if I find a bookstore I have to check it out. That is how I came across this delightful retelling of the Three Little Pigs. My family had taken a vacation to the Big Bend National Park in Texas and I found this book in one of the souvenir shops at the park. I was immediately captivated by the artwork a More...
Oct 30, 2011
Morgan
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I think that this book was a good variation of the three little pigs, particularly for our environment. It would be good for learning about fairy tales, or for learning about the desert. I think that it is a very ideal book for Arizona schools because there is new information that is presented that you wouldn't get from an average telling of the three little pigs.
I also liked the fact that there was a sister (who was the smartest of the three pigs) in this version. I think that there More...
I also liked the fact that there was a sister (who was the smartest of the three pigs) in this version. I think that there More...
Apr 04, 2011
Megan
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This version of The Three Little Pigs is very similar except it is set in the deserts of the southwest United States. Instead of pigs, there are javelinas; instead of a wolf, there is a coyote; instead of straw, sticks and bricks, there is tumbleweeds, cactus ribs, and adobe. There are even pronunciation guides for words and the dialogue of two characters that speak a different language. The illustrations of this book are very well done and provide visual representations of certain things so
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Oct 25, 2011
Anna
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The Three Little Javelinas is a cute spin-off of The Three Little Pigs. I used to read this book as a child and I remember how much I enjoyed it. I was really drawn to the illustrations. They were very detailed and enhanced the story. I really like the use of colors as well. I would suggest reading this picture book to children in kindergarten through third grade. I think that the children will enjoy it because it is such a lighthearted story. After reading this book to my elementary-aged studen
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Nov 06, 2011
Katie
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The Three Little Javelinas is a fun picture book for children. It is like the story "The Three Little Pigs" but the pigs are replaced with javelinas. The setting in the story is in the desert and the author uses words that are associated with the desert. I think this is a good way for children to learn different vocabulary than what they normally see when ready picture books. It also allows them to see how to use these words and what they mean. I enjoyed reading this fairy tale and thi
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Nov 06, 2011
Allison
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This book is a different take on the Three Little Pigs. It takes place in the Southwest and the three houses are built with tumbleweeds, sticks from inside a saguaro cactus, and adobe bricks. They asked local people for these resources and were chased out of the first two houses just like the original story. They were able to get rid of the coyote by lighting the fire as the coyote tried to climb down the little chimney area. Then the pigs lived happily ever after. This is a really good version
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Feb 24, 2010
Erin
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These three southwestern cousins of the three little pigs set off to build their homes. The first two homes were built out of tumbleweeds and saguaro ribs (from the fallen giant cacti) and they weren’t strong enough to withstand the big bad coyote. So, the first two javelinas ran from the coyote, to their wise sister's house. She had made a strong house with adobe bricks that the coyote could not destroy.
Great for compare and contrast between the original version of the Three Lit More...
Great for compare and contrast between the original version of the Three Lit More...
Mar 27, 2011
Jennifer
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This adaptation of the three little pigs gives a southwestern twist to the original story. The Mexican, Native American, and Anglo cultures are all represented in this story. Javelinas are actually southwestern swine rather than true pigs. The desert is the perfect setting for this southwestern tale and the cultural influences can be seen in the plants (saguaros) and materials used for housing such as saguaros ribs, adobe bricks, and tumbleweeds. There are even some Spanish and Native American
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Feb 15, 2010
CH - Marvin
rated it: 
Author: Susan Lowell; Illustrated: Jim Harris; (print) Age: 5-8.
The Little Javelinas is a twist on the three little pigs. Javelina's are said to be hairy cousins to the pig, and in this story, the wolf is actually a coyote. The javelinas are two brothers, and their sister, who appears to have the brains of the bunch...including the coyote.
This story is classic and it's nice to see a small and subtle twist where children could use Venn Diagrams to compare and contr
The Little Javelinas is a twist on the three little pigs. Javelina's are said to be hairy cousins to the pig, and in this story, the wolf is actually a coyote. The javelinas are two brothers, and their sister, who appears to have the brains of the bunch...including the coyote.
This story is classic and it's nice to see a small and subtle twist where children could use Venn Diagrams to compare and contr
Apr 05, 2011
Cailey
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The Three Little Pigs have gone to the American Southwest and are now Javelinas! I enjoy that the story of The Three Little Pigs, is retold and changed up by Susan Lowell in a nicer way, no one is forced to be eaten! Instead of houses made of straw, sticks, and bricks, the houses are made of tumbleweed, cactus ribs, and adobe bricks. I had to give it 5 stars because of the gorgeous illustrations by Jim Harris, which perfect the multicultural effect of the story.
Oct 26, 2011
This is a pretty interesting book to read.If the children already know the story of the three little pigs they might be able to predict this story and what will happen, or so they think. This story takes a few twists and turns which does make it a bit more fun for them to read.I would probably use this book for a 1st grade reading level. They could do a compare and contrast activity to see just how closely this story follows the original.
Oct 28, 2011
Chelsea
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I had this book growing up and it was always one of my favorites! This story takes the classic fairytale of The Three Little Pigs and adapts to the state of Arizona. I think that this book would be great for teachers especially on the West Coast because students will be able to compare and contrast the stories much easier. The book is entertaining, yet still original enough for the audience to see this fairytale in a new light.
Nov 09, 2010
Lindsey
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This is a fun spin off the tradtional three little pigs as seen through the eyes of a southwesterner. Instead of farm raised pigs, the author uses Javelinas (which are wild pigs). This would be a great book to use with children when discussing the various adaptations to the three little pigs stories or southwestern culture and vocabulary words. I did however find some of the language to be rather difficult to read aloud and would recommend practicing before reading aloud to a class.
Oct 25, 2011
Jenna
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I truely enjoyed this book a lot. Since I have lived in Arizona my whole life, I really liked the setting of the book because it reminded me of so many things that I have experienced first hand such as the desert and the javelinas. I think young elementary school students would have fun reading this book. The illustrations were very appealing and I would definitely read this aloud in my future classroom.
Oct 15, 2011
Sarah-Rae
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I like this version better than the original. These javelinas were clever little animals. And that coyote did not know when to stop. I like how Lowell added why the coyote howls when he recalls the memory when he could not catch the pigs.
It a funny book to read to children. They will also receive a cultural lesson since Lowell incorporates the Indians and the Mexicans indigenous to the area.
It a funny book to read to children. They will also receive a cultural lesson since Lowell incorporates the Indians and the Mexicans indigenous to the area.
Nov 15, 2010
Having grown up in a southwestern location, I thoroughly enjoyed this adaptation on the classic story of the three little pigs. The book was fun and entertaining, but also informative as it interjected vocabulary throughout the story that was relevant to the setting. I felt The images and changes to the story were true to the southwestern theme and really captured the essence of the desert.
Oct 28, 2011
Karly
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I thought this was a really cute book. It is basically the same story line as the three little pigs but there are some twists to it. I thought it was really neat the the book takes place in a desert, it looks a lot like Arizona and this is a good book to be read to kids in Arizona because they can relate to the pictures and the cactus and desert style of the book.
Dec 18, 2010
Kathryn
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As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I bought this book to read to my future child. I used to work for Carlsbad Caverns, and we sold it in the bookstore. I always loved it. It's a southwestern version of the Three Little Pigs, and it's written in both English and Spanish. The illustrations are wonderful. I suspect I enjoy this book way more than my son does.
Sep 21, 2009
Amy
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With my own limited knowledge of Spanish, I have been attempting to give some to the kids. This book was a great help. We read the English and the Spanish and talked about the differences in the translation: adjectives following the noun, gender specific terms, etc. Plus, it's a fun story that the kids enjoyed and could really get into.
Feb 21, 2010
Ch_charonbradley
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Everyone knows the story of the three little pigs, but now readers are introduced to the three little javelinas--lovable, wild, southwestern cousins of pigs--as they try to outsmart the coyote who had hoped to eat them with red chile sauce. children in grades 3-5 would enjoy this story.
Dec 05, 2010
Yates
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This book is a take on THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. It has the same concept with the wolf being the bad guy. As a teacher, you might have to be careful with this book. Some students might find it offense. You also need to make sure you can say all of the Spanish words correctly.
Apr 17, 2011
Mackenzie
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This is such a wonderful story to read aloud. The children love trying out the spanish vocabulary that's sprinkled throughout the book. It would be great to use in modern retelling of common fairy tales, since this is a southwestern version of the Three Little Pigs.
Jan 25, 2012
Alyxis
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BY FAR MY FAV ! Growing up in southern Arizona this book takes it home for me. I have seen more javelina in my life than piggies. I think this allows diversity and bilingual relation. Love the pics. Great book I will def be reading in my classroom !
May 16, 2011
Lisa
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Yet another favorite children's book of mine. While it is a take-off on the classic Three Little Pigs, it is unique enough for me because it tells the story of Sonoran Desert piggies (javelinas). And gosh darn it, the illustrations are just too fun!
Apr 30, 2010
Jennifer
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This book is a twist on the Three Little Pigs and is good to allow children to see a different version on an old favorite. The illustrations are good and detailed enough to express the story.
Feb 11, 2010
This is the southwestern version of "The Three Little Pigs" which features a villainous coyote and the three wild pigs of the desert. Nestled in the plot is a good bit of information about the area.
May 13, 2011
Matthew
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This is a southwestern version of The Three Little Pigs, and it is pretty good as variants of the story go. The illustrations are good and the writing is simple and entertaining.
