Three Pigs, One Wolf, Seven Magic Shapes

Hello Reader! Math Level 3

by Grace Maccarone, David Neuhaus (Illustrator)

A twist on the tale of the Three Little Pigs finds the Big Bad Wolf on the trail of the clever porkers, each of which possesses a set of magic shapes that, when put together, create a wolf-proof house. Original.

Genres: Mathematics, Animals, Childrens, Picture Books

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Grace Maccarone is an American children’s book editor and author, notably of Miss Lina’s Ballerinas, illustrated by Christine Davenier, and its sequel Miss Lina’s Ballerinas and the Prince. She has also worked as an editor at Scholastic, Wireless Generation, and currently Holiday House.

Reviews

[Ashley]

5 Stars not for the story which was ok but for the interest this ignited in tangram shapes.

[Kayo C]

This book is a nice spin on the 3 littles pigs, so I think that in a classroom kids would immediately be able to make text to text connections drawing them in to the story. I think that this story does a great job of showing how many different things can be made out of using the same 7 shapes. An activity that I would like to do with the class following the story is to give each student a tanagram and have them re-create something from the story. A minimum requirement would be each student to create of 1 thing from the story, write about what they are showing, and tell what shpas they used. For students who need more of a challenge they can do the same but can illustrate an additional thing from the story. And for those who need help a template of some options would be provide dfor them to glue the shapes in a "puzzle" type activity.

[Libby]

Genre: Picture Book; Fiction; Concept: Math
Age: PreK-3rd
Lexile: 630L
Synopsis: Tells the story of three pigs who acquire some magic shapes, which they use for various purposes, some smart and some not so smart.
Concepts/Ideas for Instruction: Math: Shapes, Sequencing; The book includes a section with related activities. This book demonstrates where students may see geometric shapes in their daily environment. After reading this book, students can be lead through a series of practices, looking for shapes in pictures, in the classroom, around the school, and beyond.

[Kelsey]

This is a quirky story with a cute enough illustrative style. I enjoy the use/discussion of shapes in this book (although what pig 1 and pig 2 make with their shapes seems very random), but I thought the ending was odd and unnecessary (the need for a wedding and creation of a family).

[John Jones]

I like this book, because it put not only a spIn on the three little pig story but it was interesting to see how shapes where used to create multiple images. This literature connected geometry and taught the reader the diffeent was t manipulate shapes using the same shapes and amount each time. I would definitely use this book to teach shapes, problem solving skills, and even colors.

[Anne Robertson]

This is great for introducing geometry to younger kids. They learn shape names and how to manipulate them into different shapes using tangrams. Has lots of resources in the back for different lessons for kids to expand on the geometry concepts.

[Joyce Munzwandi]

A good introductory book to tangrams. The students will immediately make a text to text connection with this book because of the three little pigs. The book provides the students with hands on activities making shapes

[Deanna Mcdonough]

This book is a good math for young readers. There were lots of pictures and easy sentences. This is the story of the other three little pigs, that lived in a village next to the three little pigs we all know. Two of the three pigs get eaten by Big Brad Wolf, the brother of the Big Bad Wolf.

[Lafcadio]

This book uses the classic story of the three little pigs to teach about math and tangrams. Includes activities and glossy cardstock tangram shapes to cut out.

[Dolly]

A fun take on the three little pigs tale, with tangrams to add a bit of a twist to the tale. Fun for young schoolchildren.

[Puja Patel]

The three pigs in this book discover some magic shapes which they do a variety of things with. This would be a good book to read before a math lesson on shapes.

[Jennifer]

This book is good for a math lesson on shapes also, as an introduction to tangrams and their uses.

[Katie]

Kids enjoyed the story and then built things with shapes. Enjoyed by a 2yo, 5yo, and 8 yo

[Jenny]

Three Pigs, One Wolf, Seven Magic Shapes

[Theresa]

nice intro to tangrams