picture book - The Three Ninja Pigs

Schwartz,C. (2012). The Three Ninja Pigs. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons


  In his book, The Three Ninja Pigs, author Corey Rosen Schwartz takes his readers to a place that the three little pigs have never gone before; to the dojo.  The wolf is up to usual huffing and puffing and blowing down houses around town when the three little pigs declare that they have had enough. So they decide to put an end to his terrible reign by learning to defend themselves at Ninja school. The first little pig, like the one in the traditional story takes the easy way out and quits his training early. The second little pig lasts a bit longer in his training, but not long enough. However, pig number three stays the course until she earns her last belt. Of course, when the wolf comes, the first two pigs are not prepared and have to run away. When the wolf approaches the third pig all she has to do is demonstrate her abilities on a pile of bricks to prove to the wolf that he is no match for her skills. Ultimately, the first two pigs as well as other animals devote themselves to ninja training and they live forever wolf-free.



Illustrator Dan Santat uses cartoon art to show the action in The Three Ninja Pigs. The illustrations are funny and exaggerated. The pictures show large motions and facial expressions are extreme. The background for these larger-than-life characters are simple, complementing the focus on the pigs and the wolf. Santat uses framing, speech bubbles as well as doublespread layout interspersed throughout the book. All of these features aid the reader in following the action of the story.

The Three Ninja Pigs could be used to help older students step outside of normal fairy tale thinking and then create their own twist to traditional fairy tales. For younger students, this would be a great book for them to read orally to practice reading with expression. It would also be easy and fun for them to act out what they are reading, thus giving more meaning to the text.

This book could be a conversation starter on being in too big of a hurry and not doing things right, finishing what you start, taking pride in yourself and what you do, and the importance of learning to defend yourself.