Librarian: Amanda Perry, Winooski Memorial Library
Book: The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf by Mark Teague
Age range: 3-5
Perry's summary: The Three Little Pigs is a children's classic, but award-winning author and illustrator Mark Teague gives the story a twist.
When a farmer and his wife move to Florida, three pigs find themselves suddenly displaced from their farm. They decide to build their own homes. Two of the pigs purchase cheap straw and sticks, spending the rest of their money on their favorite snacks. The third pig buys bricks and plants a garden instead.
Soon a wolf comes to town looking for lunch — but his interactions with the pigs are humorous rather than threatening. Teague's bright and engaging oil-paint illustrations pave the way for an unexpected happy ending.
Why kids will like it: Repeated lines encourage kids to join in during read-alouds. Kids will love saying "huff" and "puff" and "blow the house down!" It's also fun to find all the animals on each page — in addition to the pigs and wolf, there are birds, cats, chickens and ducks. This is a story you and your preschooler will enjoy.