The Three Little Pigs
Three little pigs each build a house of their own. When a hungry wolf comes along, the pigs discover that some houses are stronger than others. They must use their choices and cleverness to stay safe.
Why we recommend it
This familiar folktale helps young readers follow a clear sequence of events and compare characters' choices. It introduces ideas about preparation, problem-solving, and the importance of building something carefully.
Start of the book
Once upon a time there was an Old Sow with three little pigs, and since she didn't have enough to keep them, she sent them out to seek their fortune.
The first that went off met a man with a bundle of straw, and said to him, "Please, man, give me that straw to build myself a house"; which the man did, and the little Pig built a house with it. Presently along came a Wolf, knocked at the door, and said, "Little Pig, little Pig, let me come in."
To which the Pig answered, "No, no, by the hair of my chinny chin chin."
"Then I'll blow hard and I'll blow, and I'll blow your house in!" said the Wolf. So he blew hard and he blew, and he blew the house in, and ate up the little Pig.
The second Pig met a man with a bundle of gorse, and said, "Please, man, give me that gorse to build a house"; which the man did, and the Pig built his house.
Then along came the Wolf and said, "Little Pig, little Pig, let me come in."
"No, no, by the hair of my chinny chin chin."
"Then I'll blow and I'll blow hard, and I'll blow your house in!" So he blew hard and he blew, and he blew and he blew hard, and at last he blew the house down, and ate up the second little Pig.
The third Little Pig met a man with a load of bricks, and said, "Please, man, give me those bricks to build a house with"; so the man gave him the bricks, and he built his house with them. So the Wolf came, as he did to the other little pigs, and said, "Little Pig, little Pig, let me come in."
