Ketteman, Helen. THE THREE LITTLE GATORS. Chicago: Albert Whitman & Company, 2009. ISBN: 978-0807578247
This Texas version of The Three Little Pigs involves three little gators with different personalities. Their mother sends them off into the world to make their own homes with a warning about the “Big-bottomed boar”, who likes to eat gators. The first gator stops to make his home out of rocks, while the other two decide they don’t want to work that hard. While the two gators are walking, the second decides to build a stick house, after one falls on his head. This is still too much work for the third gator, who finally decides to tunnel into the sand to create his house. Not long after that, the Big-bottomed Boar arrives, ready to eat the third gator, and wiggles his rump to smash the sand house. The third gator runs to the second gator’s house of sticks for refuge. The Big-bottomed Boar asks to come in, and when the two little gators refuse, he smashes the stick house with his rump. The two gators run to the first gator’s rock house for protection. No matter how much, or how hard the boar wriggles his rump, he can not knock down the rock house. In a final attempt to wriggle his way down the chimney, back end first, the result is a roasted rump on the barbeque grill causing him to run away, never to bother the gators again. The other two gators learn their lesson and start building their own rock houses.
AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS
2011 Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award nominee
2010 Wanda Gag Honor Book
From KIRKUS REVIEWS-"The book’s chief attraction...is Terry’s hilarious illustrations. His funny gators have distinct personalities, and the picture of the Boar stuck in the chimney is inspired. Brisk fun."
From BOOKLIST- “Loaded with plenty of outlandish action from the bug-eyed, cartoonish characters rendered in glimmering colors, this would make a rip-roaring group readaloud."
From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL- “But Ketteman’s retelling, including a sassy Texas twang, makes the story hilarious and bright....readers will be chiming in on cue....The colors are vibrant yet ominous and swampy....A fun choice for libraries and classrooms.”
CONNECTIONS
Read a Texas Fractured Fairy Tale and a Texas Fairy Tale from Helen Ketteman:
· BUBBA, THE COWBOY PRINCE. ISBN 978-0590255066
· WAYNETTA AND THE CORNSTALK. ISBN 978-0807586884
Read the original story of The Three Little Pigs, then compare it to other versions:
· Seibert, Patricia. THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. ISBN 978-1577683674
· McNamara, Margaret. THE THREE LITTLE ALIENS AND THE BIG BAD ROBOT. ISBN: 978-0375866890
· Gordon, David. THE THREE LITTLE RIGS. ISBN: 978-0060581183
Use the story as a book on a character study about making good choices the first time.
The story can be used in conjunction with a social studies lesson focusing on Texas.
Images:
www.amazon.com
This Texas version of The Three Little Pigs involves three little gators with different personalities. Their mother sends them off into the world to make their own homes with a warning about the “Big-bottomed boar”, who likes to eat gators. The first gator stops to make his home out of rocks, while the other two decide they don’t want to work that hard. While the two gators are walking, the second decides to build a stick house, after one falls on his head. This is still too much work for the third gator, who finally decides to tunnel into the sand to create his house. Not long after that, the Big-bottomed Boar arrives, ready to eat the third gator, and wiggles his rump to smash the sand house. The third gator runs to the second gator’s house of sticks for refuge. The Big-bottomed Boar asks to come in, and when the two little gators refuse, he smashes the stick house with his rump. The two gators run to the first gator’s rock house for protection. No matter how much, or how hard the boar wriggles his rump, he can not knock down the rock house. In a final attempt to wriggle his way down the chimney, back end first, the result is a roasted rump on the barbeque grill causing him to run away, never to bother the gators again. The other two gators learn their lesson and start building their own rock houses.
AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS
2011 Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award nominee
2010 Wanda Gag Honor Book
From KIRKUS REVIEWS-"The book’s chief attraction...is Terry’s hilarious illustrations. His funny gators have distinct personalities, and the picture of the Boar stuck in the chimney is inspired. Brisk fun."
From BOOKLIST- “Loaded with plenty of outlandish action from the bug-eyed, cartoonish characters rendered in glimmering colors, this would make a rip-roaring group readaloud."
From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL- “But Ketteman’s retelling, including a sassy Texas twang, makes the story hilarious and bright....readers will be chiming in on cue....The colors are vibrant yet ominous and swampy....A fun choice for libraries and classrooms.”
CONNECTIONS
Read a Texas Fractured Fairy Tale and a Texas Fairy Tale from Helen Ketteman:
· BUBBA, THE COWBOY PRINCE. ISBN 978-0590255066
· WAYNETTA AND THE CORNSTALK. ISBN 978-0807586884
Read the original story of The Three Little Pigs, then compare it to other versions:
· Seibert, Patricia. THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. ISBN 978-1577683674
· McNamara, Margaret. THE THREE LITTLE ALIENS AND THE BIG BAD ROBOT. ISBN: 978-0375866890
· Gordon, David. THE THREE LITTLE RIGS. ISBN: 978-0060581183
Use the story as a book on a character study about making good choices the first time.
The story can be used in conjunction with a social studies lesson focusing on Texas.
Images:
www.amazon.com