Three Hungry Pigs and the Wolf Who Came to Dinner (Picture Book)
Grade 1-3–When Bianca, a truffle-hunting pig, discovers that eating the mushrooms is even better than finding them, her owner sends her and her piglets away. Despite a scary night alone, life in the fungi-filled deep woods seems like the perfect place for the porker and her young. But danger intrudes upon their bliss when a hungry wolf stops by looking for a meal. Before he can get a taste for pork, Bianca pops a truffle into his mouth. Quickly the wolf is hooked, and together they search for the delicious treat. When the rest of the pack comes looking for a less vegetarian meal, Bianca's wolf comes to her rescue and saves the day. Then, the truffle-loving wolf and the truffle-finding pig family live happily ever after. While Santore's descriptive text is effective in evoking fearful emotions, it is balanced with scenes of happiness and hints of humor. The creative placement of the type and the use of bold reinforce some of the action. Rich with fall hues, the oil illustrations are a perfect complement to the text. The detail of the full-page paintings and full-bleed spreads beautifully reinforces the emotions and actions of the tale. A good choice for one-on-one sharing or to juxtapose with a story of a big bad wolf.–Catherine Callegari, San Antonio Public Library, TXCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.