The Three Little Pigs and the Fox

by William H. Hooks, S.D. Schindler

In this Appalachian version of the classic tale, Hamlet, the youngest pig, rescues her two greedy brothers from the clutches of the "mean, tricky old drooly-mouth fox"

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fairy Tales

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 1989

About the author

Director of Publications at Bank Street College of Education

He collects folklore and lives in New York City

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

You might recognize this tale if you have read the familiar pigs/wolf version of the three little pigs, but this one has a lot of changes so it will not be what you expect. (To be honest, I don't know the origins of these tales so maybe this one is just as old as the more familiar one?) I liked that it was a little more complicated, although it sacrifices some of the repetition (a la "I'll huff, and I'll puff"). And it was kind of a nice change that there was a girl pig (the smart one), but the father of these pigs is still absentee. (Are these tales really commentaries on abusive, deadbeat dads? The pigs keep being terrorized by a "fox" or "wolf" whenever they leave their mother's house. Hmm.) Sensitive readers should be okay because no one gets eaten in this one.

Great for kids who like to mix it up when they read familiar stories.

[Emily Ramos-Niaves · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting take on the tale of the three little pigs. It basically took on the same idea as the original, except they used a fox instead of the "big bad wolf" and the pigs never built houses. They were just tricked by the fox. It is a tale tale that shows how one can use their mind and cunning to overcome obstacles and "defeat the bad guy".

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love revamped fairy tales but sometimes I don't love the way they are done. I really liked this one though. I started off feeling like it wasn't going to be much different but then things started happening to the pigs themselves and not just their houses. This is a fun rendition!

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tie for my favorite three little pigs book. I was introduced to it when I was a substitute teacher in the mid 1990s. I think this was the first three pigs book that I read that had a female pig as the heroine.
My other favorite Three Little pigs book is The Three Pigs by David Wiesner

[skcocnaH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting take on this traditional tale.

[Private Account · Rating 1 out of 5]

-Not well written, lots of random extra information in the beginning that serves no purpose in the story, like that the mom built herself a very strong house but then none of her children build houses so… who cares?
-The mother warns her son to "watch out" for the fox but that is the only instruction he gets
-She also tells him to build a safe strong house but... that is more useless information as no one builds any houses in this story
-The fox doesn't "outsmart" the pig, he just kidnaps him. The conversation was pointless.
-The youngest pig, we are told, outsmarts the fox. But I don't see any outsmarting. Just her putting him in a sack.
-The only outsmarting was when the youngest pig tricks the fox into thinking he is being chased by hunting dogs--

and there you have it, the only actual value taught in this book. Trick people.

[Lara Vickers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I included this title for a study of various versions of the classic folk tale, The Three Little Pigs. It was my least favorite choice. It included the least amount of similarities to the earliest versions of this tale and was very wordy. The one thing I did like was that the hero of the story is the littlest pig who is a girl. She saves her brothers in the end.

I would recommend this title for a study of different versions of The Three Little Pigs and as a study of American sub-cultures for the focus on Appalachia. It would probably best serve first through fifth graders.

[Samantha Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Three Little Pigs and the Fox is well designed. Hooks uses pattern to help the reader predict what may happen, but then surprises the reader with a touch of flair in breaking the pattern! Schindler's watercolor cut-outs reflect the story well with action shots that are funny at times. The text is casual in tone and with all of the characters' lines, this story could be a lot of fun to hear acted out!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a joy it was to share this one with my grandsons. The old story is given an American treatment, in the Appalachian Mountains. Our villain is a fox instead of a wolf. I particularly loved that the youngest pig, who outwitted the fox and rescued the family, was a girl.

Very much recommended!

[Rebecca Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good turn on the story three little pigs. There are many similiar traits to this story and the classic. I would use this book in my classroom to help the students comparre and contrast things. They could even make a vin-diagram.

[Maggy Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Themes: leaving home, coming of age, laziness, trickery, sibling relations

[Anson Sitoula · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book i liked it

[Haley Hoenke · Rating 3 out of 5]

#folktales