Three Little Cajun Pigs

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Artell, Mike. 2006. Three Little Cajun Pigs. Ill. by Jim Harris. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0803728158


This version of The Three Little Pigs takes place in Southern Louisiana. The story line of Three Little Cajun Pigs is similar to the original, except in this story, the wolf is an alligator named Claude. Instead of huffing and puffing, the alligator uses his tail to destroy the houses. The story begins with mama pig sending her children to live on their own.  The pigs are named Trosclair, Thibodeaux, and Ulysse, all names commonly found in Louisiana. Ulysse begins making his home of brick and his brothers laugh at him for doing so. Trosclair  makes his house of straw, which is destroyed by the alligator's tail. Trosclair runs to  Thibodeaux's house, which is made of sticks. Claude also destroys this house and the two run to Ulysse's house. Ulysse is cooking a pot of roux in the fireplace when the two arrive. Claude attempts to knock the house down, but is unable to do so. "I see dere's a chimney. Dat's how I'll get in, and den I'll get all of dem hairs on your chin." When Claude goes down the chimney, he gets burned from the roux instead of getting the pigs. Claude runs back to his home and places an ice pack on his derriere. He is never seen by the pigs again. Ulysse convinces Trosclair and Thibodeaux to each make a house of brick. 

Three Little Cajun Pigs is a very unique version of The Three Little Pigs. The entire story is written in the Cajun language. A glossary is provide in the beginning to help aid anyone not familiar with the Cajun terms found in the story. The detailed watercolor illustrations are very appealing and provide distinct emotions of the characters in the story. I suggest this story to anyone wanting a different version of The Three Little Pigs. This story also provides multicultural information on Cajun language and Southern Louisiana. If one is not familiar with the Cajun language, I highly suggest reading the book several times before reading to a group. 


If you enjoy Three Little Cajun Pigs, you may also enjoy The Three Pigs by David Wiesner, The Three Little Pigs by James Marshall, The Three Little Pigs by Paul Galdone, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka, and The Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz.

School Library Journal (12/01/2006):
K-Gr 3 “A hilarious version of the familiar tale. Harris’s amusing watercolor- Although Cajun variations on folktales are becoming plentiful, this one should not be missed."

Hornbook Guide to Children (01/01/2007):
In this familiar story set in the "south Loo-siana" bayou, the pigs confront an alligator instead of a wolf. Harris's cartoonish watercolor illustrations deftly capture the story's motion.”

Further activities for The Three Little Pigs can be found at:
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/3LittlePigsLiteracyIdeas.htm

http://oceansoffirstgradefun.blogspot.com/2010/12/three-little-pigs-literature-study.html

http://ciese.org/curriculum/engineering/three_little_pigs.html