1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Rubin, Vicky. 2007. The Three Swingin' Pigs. Ill by Rhode Montijo. New York: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 0805073353
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this musical version of the traditional tale of "Three Little Pigs," a romping trio of swinging pigs tries to get on Wolfie's good side with their musical talent. They scat and dazzle him at their "Big Pig Gig" performance at the Smokehouse. Just as Wolfie is imagining his pork feast on stage, Ella invites him to perform alongside the crew. Wolfie's trumpet talent earns him a spot in the band, and they "scooby doo wah" into a blissful quartet.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
"Scat-scooby-dooby, skit-scat-skedoodle, shooo!" In this hipster tale version of "The Three Little Pigs," Rubin fills the story line with musical notes and cool cat beats. The jazzy trio of Satch, Mo, and Ella (niece and nephews of the original pigs) hit the road to perform at sold out concerts. (If this were a movie, Brian Setzer would be on the soundtrack.) The big baaaaad Wolfie is hot on their trail and hot tempered, too. He's met by characters speaking hipster slang to calm him down, "Don't be a square, Daddy-O. Don't be uptight. When I get like that I take a deep breath and count to ten - that's right."
The fully colored illustrations by Montijo only add to the boldness of the story. Deep purples, yellows, and reds fill the entire pages of Hogland Woods. The clean lines and soft mosaic backgrounds give a modern vibe. The illustrator offers many more details than the story provides, so if you read to a group of kids, be sure to show off the images. (Little Red Riding Hood, Mary's lamb, Rapunzel's hair, and the Gingerbread Man have cameo appearances.)
The pigs and Wolfie are modernly dressed, and their beatnik slang make this storybook the cat's meow.
The fully colored illustrations by Montijo only add to the boldness of the story. Deep purples, yellows, and reds fill the entire pages of Hogland Woods. The clean lines and soft mosaic backgrounds give a modern vibe. The illustrator offers many more details than the story provides, so if you read to a group of kids, be sure to show off the images. (Little Red Riding Hood, Mary's lamb, Rapunzel's hair, and the Gingerbread Man have cameo appearances.)
The pigs and Wolfie are modernly dressed, and their beatnik slang make this storybook the cat's meow.
4. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS
Kirkus Book Review Starts, 2007
This charming and playful spin on a classic tale will have children and adults howling with laughter. The tone of the text reveals an author with a passion for jazz music and the classics, as well as a delightful sense of humor.
Montijo's red-hot pictures and Rubin's skit-scat-skedoodle words make this take-off a hand-clapping, foot-stomping romp.
Attempting to reverse the fortune of the three not-so-lucky little pigs of the classic fairytale, Rubin (Ralphie and the Swamp Baby\n) offers up an easygoing porcine trio, cast as cool jazz musicians with an enthusiastic following. The text is as smooth as the main characters, the token wolf dubbed the “baddest cat” and the pigs referred to as Satch, Mo and Ella (a nod to the great Armstrong and Fitzgerald).
5. CONNECTIONS
*Read other stories about trios, such as:
The Three Tamales by Eric Kimmel
Joseph Jacobs' the Story of the Three Little Pigs by Lorinda Bryan Cauley
The Three Tamales by Eric Kimmel
Joseph Jacobs' the Story of the Three Little Pigs by Lorinda Bryan Cauley
*Listen to jazz soundtracks like Armstrong and Fitzgerald.
*Read about other animals with an affection for jazzy music: Jazz Fly by Matthew Gollub.
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