Pig Pigger Piggest

Title: Pig Pigger Piggest

Author: Rick Walton

Illustrator: Jimmy Holder

Publisher: Salt Lake City: Gibbs Smith, 1997

ISBN: 1-58685-318-X

Plot Summary: “Once upon a time, there were three pigs: a big pig named Pig, a bigger pig named Pigger, and the biggest of the three named Piggest.” The three pigs lived in a castle with their father and mother, the King and Queen. One day the King told his dear piggy babies that they were grown up now and needed to build castles of their own. Pig found a nice mud pit and went to work, building a very fine castle of mud-bricks. Pigger found a nicer mud pit and went to work, constructing a grander castle of mud-bricks. Piggest found the nicest, muddiest spot and built the biggest mud-brick castle of all. They were all happy until the fateful day each was visited by a witch—sows by the name of Witch, Witcher, and Witchest. Witch visited Pig, Witcher visited Pigger, and Witchest visited Piggest. The witches wanted the castles because building was not in the witch skill set, but the brothers refused. Miffed, the witches called upon their pet elements, Puff, Puffer, and Puffest, to blow and rain down the castles. The brothers, immensely impressed by the resulting mud pits, sought out the witches and proposed marriage. “And they all lived sloppily ever after.”

Critical Analysis: The tale of the three little pigs is firmly entrenched in the literary world of children; Pig Pigger Piggest is a rollicking version of good and muddy fun. Walton’s text and Holder’s illustrations turn the tale from the traditional construction materials (straw, sticks, and bricks) to the size of the constructions. The big, bad wolf becomes three dumpy witches. Elemental weather beings controlled by the witches take care of the huffing and puffing. The pig brothers are smarter than those in the original story because they all use bricks, although the bricks aren’t the quality kiln-fired type. The witches are nicer than the wolf; the witches are after property, not pork. Even without successfully gaining their objectives, the witches prove they can certainly take care of themselves.

Walton’s text trips from the tongue. He breaks the grammar rule of comparison by adding –er and –est to nouns as well as adjectives; the results are funny sounding and even young children recognize that something silly is happening to the words. Each pig’s episode echoes the previous, the primary change occurring in words of comparison. With its strong, simple story and its back-and-forth dialogue, Walton’s text could stand alone, but the illustrations take the story to the next level of enjoyment.

The sketch-like illustrations are best described as cheerful and rotund, appropriate for a light tale about big pigs. Holder’s pictures support Walton’s comparison-based text and add a touch of personality to the characters. The pigs, settings, and whimsical details grow larger on each spread; Piggest’s final mud pit runs right off the page! A sense of the characters’ dispositions is shown primarily through their expressions. For example, thanks to their uncertain smiles and shyly hopeful eyebrows, the witches could never be considered evil.

The text is fun, the pictures are funner, but the funnest aspect of the book is the recognition that in spite of their anthropomorphism, the characters are, after all, still pigs.

Reviews:

" …Walton's (You Don't Always Get What You Hope For) playful progressive comparisons are enjoyably goofy… Perhaps not the funniest, it's funnier than many; and definitely a funny book." - Publisher's Weekly

“This book is filled with both real and nonsense examples of comparatives and superlatives. The funny illustrations, rich language and surprise ending will engage all readers and listeners.” - www.librarything.com

“Walton's superlative reframing of the classic three pigs story could be criticized for its disjointed narrative. But the fact that the story has no point and makes little sense is exactly one of the reasons why it's funny to young children. The superlatives strengthen the rhythm, making this a great book to read aloud.”—Panguitch, epinions.com

More by Walton and Holder:

Why the Banana Split 

Gibbs Smith, 2005 ISBN 978-1586858414

Amazon.com description: So why did the banana split? Well, for the same reason that the jackhammers hit the road, the lettuce headed out, and the jump ropes skipped town. It was even enough to make the baseball players strike out. Here's a hint: it's bigger than a breadbox. And named Rex. With Jimmy Holder's sly illustrations bringing every pun to life, Rick Walton's verbal deftness will leave readers splitting too-their sides.

That’s What You Get. . .!

Gibbs Smith 2000, ISBN 978-0879059644

Amazon.com description: A zany mother's rhyming explanations for why things happen

Created for course 5603.21 at Texas Woman's University