Bibliography:
Artell, Mike. 2006.Three Little Cajun Pigs .Ill. by Jim Harris. NewYork: Peguin Group (USA). ISBN: 0-8037-2815-8
Plot Summary:
Three Cajun pigs named Trosclair, Thibodeaux, and Ulysse – who was called Boo by his brothers – were told by their Mama that it is was time for them to go and find a place of their own. So they packed their bags and went off to find a place to build their houses.
This is the way this version of the classic children’s tale of The Three Little Pigs begins. The story line is similar to that of the original pigs, however these pigs live in “South Loo-siana” and the villain is an alligator rather than a big bad wolf. This gator is as sly and wily as the wolf is in the original tale.
The gator, Claude engages the use of his tail to “whack” the houses of straw and sticks that Trosclair and Thibodeaux had built. Rather than huffing and puffing as the wolf did, Claude “he hiss and puff and wiggle a little and whack – that gator done flip his tail hard, and the straw house goes flying all over the yard.”
Trosclair and Thibodeax fled to Boo’s house made from bricks. Boo was busy making a big pot of roux in the fireplace when Ol’ Claude the gator came calling. Claude’s tail had gotten pretty sore from whacking the others pigs’ houses down, so he asked the three Little Cajun Pigs to let him in, to which they replied, “No! Not by all dem hairs dat we got on our chin.” (Artell 2006)
Claude decided to try to get to the pigs through the chimney. He got part way down, but got stuck just about the time his tail fell into the pot of roux. Once he freed himself, he was hurting pretty bad and left the house walking pretty funny. Now Ol’ Claude was at home on the bayou with an ice pack on his tail, and he’s not going to bother those pigs anymore.
Critical Analysis:
Hysterical! This is a wonderful version of the classical Three Little Pigs. Mike Artwell’s Cajun spin is priceless. Thank goodness he starts with a glossary of Cajun words, pronunciations; and a note on “the rhyming scheme for Three Little Cajun Pigs emphasizes the second, fifth, eighth, and eleventh syllables. Example: In SOUTH Loo-si-AN-a, where GA-tors grow BIG Live T’REE Cajun PIGS and an OL’ mama PIG.”(Artell 2006) Once you start reading you will quickly jump into character, laughing and smiling the whole time you are reading this book. People around you will stop to listen because it is so entertaining. Mike’s rendition truly had the Cajun persona dead-on. The language is truly something to experience, that children and adults will never tire of reading multiple times. This should be in everyone’s library.
Jim Harris did a great job on illustrating these characters. The Cajun flair was evident in the pigs’ faces, clothes, instruments, and bayou. Did you find the little brown mouse that was in every picture but four? You have to search to find him peeking over the lily pad in the bayou or hanging off the end of Trosclair’s tail running to his brother’s house of sticks after Ol’ Claude the gator whacked his house with his tail. Jim’s website goes into detail about each picture and clues on his design for them. The full-color artwork was prepared using watercolor and pencil on Strathmore rag bristol. Please check out his website which also has information on his books, tips for writers, tips for illustrators, activities for kids and more.
Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal
K-Gr 3-A hilarious version of the familiar tale. The pigs are named Trosclair, Thibodeaux, and Ulysse (also know as Boo), and their antagonist is Ol' Claude, the alligator of Petite Rouge infamy (Dial, 2001), who finishes off the straw and stick houses with a flap of his tail: "`Oh piggy,' say Claude with dat big gator smile,/`Could I come inside of you house for a while?'/Dat's when Trosclair shout, `No! I won't let you in;/Not by all dem hairs dat I got on my chin.'" The gator is let off easy at the end: he is nursing a burnt tail from an encounter with Ulysse's "roux," but is rescued by the pigs from becoming gumbo. Harris's amusing watercolor-and-pencil illustrations mirror the text with lan; they are full of funny details that beg to be looked at again and again (the little mouse is also back). Front matter includes a glossary of some Cajun words and a note about the rhyme scheme that facilitates reading the story aloud. Although Cajun variations on folktales are becoming plentiful, this one should not be missed.-Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
The team behind the award-winning Petite-Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood (2001) now turns their talents to the story of the three little pigs. Harris's playful and detailed watercolor and pencil illustrations heighten the quirky humor of Artell's rhyming verse, which is characterized by heavy, but accessible, Cajun dialect. The pigs, Trosclair, Thibodeaux and Ulysse, no sooner build their respective houses of straw, sticks and brick then they are set upon by Ol' Claude, the gator who "hiss and puff and he make his face frown, / He wiggle a little and turn hisself roun'." With mighty swipes, Claude demolishes the first two homes with his tail, but when he squeezes down the chimney of the brick house, he is stymied by a roux bubbling beneath him. Figuring the alligator has learned his lesson, the pigs finally cover the pot, allowing Claude to escape. This retelling of the traditional story is Cajun both in language and lesson. Emphasizing devotion to family and extending others the benefit of the doubt, it also conveys the very Cajun notion that there are few situations that cannot be improved with a big pot of gumbo among friends. (Glossary) (Picture book. 4-8)
Connections:
Other versions/variants of The Three Little Pigs:
Wiesner, David. The Three Pigs.ISBN-10: 0618007016; ISBN-13: 978-0618007011
Kellogg, Steven. The Three Little Pigs. ISBN-10: 0064437795; ISBN-13: 978-0064437790
Trivizas, Eugene. The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig. ISBN-10: 068981528X; ISBN-13: 978-0689815287
Pichon, Liz. The Three Horrid Little Pigs. ISBN-10: 1589254236; ISBN-13: 978-1589254237
Websites with Activities, Games and Lesson Plans: Children’s Engineering Activity
http://www.k12science.org/curriculum/engineering/three_little_pigs.html
Literacy Curriculum Unit www.pdesas.org/module/content/drc/UnitPlanPrint.aspx?id=4570
Jim Harris http://www.jimharrisillustrator.com/
Awards:
Mike Artell, Aurthor.
PETITE ROUGE - A Cajun Red Riding Hood was named by the National Association of Elementary School Principals as its 2009 Read Aloud Book of the Year. PETITE ROUGE has also become a musical theatre production which has been staged at many theatres across the U.S. and in England. Mike’s astronomy book titled, STARRY SKIES, was named a Best Science Book For Children by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Mike’s books have also been named “Pick of the Lists” by Publisher’s Weekly, “Top 100” by Curriculum Administrator Magazine and “Teacher’s Choice” by Learning Magazine.
Jim Harris, Illustrator.
Publisher’s Weekly Top 10 Bestseller List 1997 TEN LITTLE DINOSAURS
Colorado Book Awards 1997 TEN LITTLE DINOSAURS
Colorado Children’s Book Award 1998 TEN LITTLE DINOSAURS
Colorado Children's Book Award Nominee 2001 SLIM AND MISS PRIM
Children’s Choice Award 1998 TEN LITTLE DINOSAURS
Arizona Young Readers Award 1994 THE THREE LITTLE JAVELINAS
PBS Reading Rainbow 1994 THE THREE LITTLE JAVELINAS
Colorado Book Award 1994 GOOSE AND THE MOUNTAIN LION
Arizona Young Reader’s Award Finalist GOOSE AND THE MOUNTAIN LION
Colorado Book Award Finalist RAPUNZEL
Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award Finalist 1996 THE THREE LITTLE JAVELINAS
Western Writers of America Spur Award 1999 SLIM AND MISS PRIM
Western Writers of America Storyteller Award Finalist 1998 JACK AND THE GIANT
New York Society of Illustrators Awards of Merit 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991
New York Society of Illustrators Silver Medal 1991
Communication Arts Award of Excellence 1987
Storytelling World Honor Book 2002 PETITE ROUGE
Book Sense 76 Top 10 Pick 2001 PETITE ROUGE
National Society for Social Studies/Children’s Book Council Notable Children’s Book 2002 PETITE ROUGE
Louisiana Young Reader’s Choice Award 2004 PETITE ROUGE
Mockingbird Books 2006 THE TROUBLE WITH CAULIFLOWER
OneBookAZ 2010 THE THREE LITTLE JAVELINAS/LOS TRES PEQUENOS JABALIES
No comments:
Post a Comment