Review: A new version of an old favorite
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 31, 2014
What a complete pleasure to encounter an old favorite fairytale as interpreted by a new author. In this case Italian author Roberto Piumini transforms this beloved classic through the vibrant, bold, and colorful illustrations by the equally celebrated artist Nicoletta Costa.Piumini alters the tale somewhat in that the three little pigs are essentially triplets - Pombo, Golli and Fonfon - having been born at the same time. Now that their mother has new baby pigs she sends the older pigs out into the world to fend for themselves. On their travels they encounter a storm and the frightened Golli (the girl pig) decides to build a shelter or hut of straw - but it is only large enough for her. Her brothers proceed - Fonfon spies a pile of wood and Pombo a pile of bricks and each decides to build their own hut.  The storm blows over, but of course the wolf comes round, blows Golli's straw hut down making her flee to Fonfon's wooden hut. But the wolf follows and blows  the wooden hut down, making Golli and Fonfon run to Pombo's brick house. When the wolf follows and tried to blow the brick hut down, he is unsuccessful. Thinking they are safe the three pigs go out and gather the straw and wood from the destroyed houses while the wolf has secretly climbed onto the roof of the brick house, awaiting the chance to sneak down the chimney to feast on the pigs. But that night, after dark, when the wolf attempts to crawl down the chimney, the three pigs light the straw and wood they have gathered and the wolf, attempting escape, is roasted instead!This is an absolutely charming rethinking of The Three Little Pigs tale and one that will surely please all children (and their adult readers!) with an updated version of an old favorite. Grady Harp, January 14