The Three Pigs

Winner of the 2002 Caldecott Medal

This picture book begins placidly (and familiarly) enough, with three pigs collecting materials and going off to build houses of straw, sticks, and bricks. But the wolf’s huffing and puffing blows the first pig right out of the story . . . and into the realm of pure imagination. The transition signals the start of a freewheeling adventure with characteristic David Wiesner effects—cinematic flow, astonishing shifts of perspective, and sly humor, as well as episodes of flight.

Satisfying both as a story and as an exploration of the nature of story, The Three Pigs takes visual narrative to a new level. Dialogue balloons, text excerpts, and a wide variety of illustration styles guide the reader through a dazzling fantasy universe to the surprising and happy ending. Fans of Tuesday’s frogs and Sector 7’s clouds will be captivated by old friends—the Three Pigs of nursery fame and their companions—in a new guise.

What happens when characters escape their own pages?
A Fractured Fairy Tale: When the Big Bad Wolf huffs and puffs, he doesn’t just blow the house down—he blows one of the pigs right out of the classic story!Metafiction for Kids: Follow the pigs as they escape the confines of their panels, folding the pages into paper airplanes and exploring a dazzling world of other storybooks.Stunning Visual Narrative: Told through a mix of illustration styles, from classic picture book art to comic-panel layouts with dialogue balloons that break the fourth wall.A Surprising New Ending: Forget the tale you think you know. Discover how the three pigs find their way to a truly satisfying and happy ending with new friends in tow.