Pig, Pigger, Piggest

by Rick Walton, Jimmy Holder (Illustrator)

It's the three little pigs with a whole new twist! When three brothers (Pig, Pigger, and Piggest) meet three sisters (Witch, Witcher, and Witchest) the results are a muddy mess in which they all live sloppily ever after.
Author Rick Walton is well known for his highly entertaining illustrated books, which simultaneously teach children language arts principles. This rollicking tale is enhanced by the lively illustrations of Jimmy Holder. Now available for the first time in paperback, Pig, Pigger, Piggest is a book your whole family will love.
Rick Walton is the author of more than forty children's books. He lives with his wife and four children in Provo, Utah. Jimmy Holder is an illustrator who does work for magazines and advertising agencies, as well as illustrating children's picture books. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Fairy Tales, Storytime

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Born and raised in Utah, Walton is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormon Church. He served as a missionary to Brazil from 1976 to 1978, soon after he graduated from high school. Later, at Brigham Young University, he became president of the Brazil Club. In 1980, he graduated from Brigham Young with a bachelor's degree in Spanish and a minor in Portuguese, the language spoken in Brazil.

Walton's education continued after he obtained his degree. In 1980, he went back to Brigham Young for one semester of graduate work in business, but chose not to follow that career path. Deciding to become a teacher, he earned certification in elementary education from Brigham Young in 1987, as well as certification to teach gifted and talented students. Up to that point, he had held a number of jobs, including a year with the parks and recreation department of Provo, Utah. In 1987, he began teaching sixth grade at a local public school, then switched to a private school.

Also interested in computers, Walton would later publish several items of software. He left teaching to accept a position as software designer for IBM in 1989. In 1994, he turned to freelance software design and writing. He also returned to Brigham Young University once again, this time to earn his master's degree in English, with an emphasis on creative writing.

Walton's wife, Ann, with whom he has written many of his books, is a computer programmer. They were married in 1983, and have five children. With Dumb Clucks! and Something's Fishy! in 1987, the Waltons began writing books.

Reviews

[Mike Masucci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similar to 3 little pigs, this book tell you about 3 pigs that have to move out of their home and go out on their own. Everything in the book is in the context of the 3 endings. There is a lot of useful vocabualry throughout the book and as a teacher, you Ould expand on some of those words. The one thing I did not like in the book were the illustrations. I personally did not like some of the pictures. Still, the children could easily relate and would be good to read in class.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not sure what I just read. I need to process that book to fully decide if I think it is a fun take on The Three Little Pigs or if it is just strange. Hmm.

It is a local author though, which is always great to see.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the idea of this book. Taking a classic folk tale and putting a modern twist on it. Being able to show that stories always don't turn out the way you'd expect is cool. The illustrations really helped highlight the story and not take attention away from the storyline.

[Georgette Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute, positive new take on the 3 little pigs story

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny picture book that teaches superlatives.

[Kaley Coburn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have heard too many versions of the story, but is good when students are learning about proportions

[Ashlyn Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

This version of the three little pigs but a love story twist on the book.

[Annie Jewell]

I thought this book was a great take off of the 3 Little Pigs and it shows kids that they can find a positive in any situation.

[Christine Heron · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strange, stranger, strangest story ever.

[Janna]

This version of the Three Little Pigs was so different than any of the other versions I have read. It was unpredictable and silly to read. All the pigs made their houses out of bricks and there were witches instead of a wolf, but there were similarities with the original Three Little Pigs in the plot. The style of language used in this book was crafted in a very unique way. It used incorrect grammar and added –er and –est endings to words that did not make sense, but this made the story more entertaining. The cartoon style illustrations were also very fitting to the silly text. I especially enjoyed the unique pictures of the wind clouds “Huff and Puff” and also the horses with the disproportioned head size.

[Jourdan Aanenson]

The tradidional story of the three little pigs is simlar to the three pig brothers who "make" friends with three sister witches.

The pictures in this book are very unique, the three pigs in the story are not drawn to scale, they are made rather large. The pictures are goofy, in one picture the three pigs all have crazy different hats on. They all have the same facial expression but they are all different by what they are wearing. The pictures are rather appealing to children because it almost looks like a child did the paintings. This book could be used in the classroom because of the funny story line and the great paintings. I think children would love this book.

[Luann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fun retelling of the three little pigs! The illustrations are just as hilarious as the text and include fun details like mice named Squeak, Squeaker, and Squeakest to go along with the pigs: Pig, Pigger, and Piggest; the witches: Witch, Witcher, and Witchest; and the winds: Huff and Puff, Huffer and Puffer, and Huffest and Puffest. And at the end there is a perfect, perfecter, or even perfectest twist!

[Lauren Tortorelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great twist on the classic tale. I used it as a read aloud with my first graders and they loved it. They weren't expecting the witches or them all to fall in love at the end (which of course drew a lot of ewwwwwws from the boys). I used it as my first book in my pigs unit and am kind of wishing I had read a slightly more traditional version for the first, but they know the original story so well it didn't hurt my compare/contrast lesson too much.

[Keegan Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a funny spin on The Three Little Pigs. The key to it being cute was the use of important words from the story (pigs, huff and puff, etc.) and the repetition using the comparative and superlative. Also, the ending is a bit unexpected but also makes sense when you think about it, so it makes me smile.

[Lisa Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book I oftened used while teaching school; it is a fun and creative retelling of the Three Little Pigs. Not only is it smart and funny, but it has fantastic illustrations. (And it really came in handy when I taught the concept of -er and -est.)

[Ruth Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Word play (superlatives). This is a unique version of the three little pigs in which, instead of a wolf, the three pigs meet three witch sisters, After some huffing and puffing from ghosts, and a few good rains, they all live muddily and sloppily-ever-after.

[Maryanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has taken the three little pigs and put a fun twist on it. The boys and I had some good laughs while reading it. We went through it again after reading it looking at all the pictures and laughing some more.

[Andrew Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book uses the traditional story of the Three Little Pigs to discuss the idea of comparison, but the story changes somewhat. There are still phrases "huff and puff" that are true to the old story that children can recognize. Great illustrations as well!

[Elizabeth S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite being something of a tongue twister to read out loud (can you say "witchest's distictly?), this is a fun (and punny) book to enjoy. As you might guess, is helpful for discussion of superlatives.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an hilarious new version of "The Three Little Pigs" and I really enjoyed reading this out loud. A bit of a tongue twister at times!

[Chantel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a funny retelling of the three little pigs. I love the illustrations and the repetition of the story line. It's a familiar story with unexpected twists! Funny. Funnier. Funniest!

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very unusual 3 pig story- witches, Huff and Puff, lots of mud, a flat Squeak, and sheep!

[Bonnie Pohlig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved it! A fun variation of the Three Little Pigs, with a happy, very cute ending. Wonderful pictures that add to the story!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spin on the 3 Little Pigs that is lots of fun. Very silly with fun illustrations to match. I think my 4 yr old enjoyed it as much if not more than I did.

[Terrah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute, with a fun twist. And a nice way to introduce -er and -est.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

teacher resource for teaching comparison, story telling, fractured tales, and silly stories

[Erin Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute retelling of The Three Little Pigs.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

anticipate using this clever retelling in a variety of ways

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could use to teach superlatives (er, est).
Version of The 3 Little Pigs.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I use this book over and over in school visits, and inevitably, the kids love it.