INSIDE OUT & BACK AGAIN

Lai, Thanhha.  Inside Out & Back Again.  New York:  Harper Collins, 2011.  ISBN 978-0-06-196278-3.


Plot Summary

Ha, at the young age of 10, must flee Saigon with her mother and two brothers in 1975.  They escape war-torn Vietnam and encounter a different kind of cruelty in Alabama.  Based on the author's real-life experiences, Ha and her family must learn to adapt to a new way of life and overcome those who terrorize her.

 

 

Critical Analysis

 

Inside Out & Back Again is a novel in verse based on the author's escape from Vietnam at the end of the war.  The poem collection chronicles the main character's life in 1975.  Dates are included at the end of each diary-like verse to help the reader envision the passing of time.  Lai uses free-verse to weave a story which is at times sad but yet uplifting to see the tenaciousness to conquer a new language, culture, homeland, and personal obstacles along the way.   When faced with constant bullying Ha laments, "I understand/ and wish/ I could go back/ to not understanding."  Flowing lines allow the story to have a gentle, calming effect on the reader, much like the chanting of Ha to keep her from losing her temper.  "Chant, my daughter;/ your whispers will bloom/ and shelter you/ from words/ you need not hear."  Lai's word choice is precise and brings such vivid imagery.  "Her brows/ twist like laundry/ being wrung dry."  "Tears of an ugly fish./  I know that to mean/ fake tears of a crocodile."  Lai also brings a sense of humor to her character.  On learning a new language, "Whoever invented English/ should have learned/ to spell."  This novel in verse captures the reader's attention and leaves them wanting more after the last page has been turned.  Lai accomplished in her first publication what many fail to do in a multitude of volumes.  Inside Out & Back Again:  a tale of sorrow, a tale of strife, a tale of resolve, and a tale of new-found respect.  A masterful tale of a young girl's journey Inside Out & Back Again.

 

 

Awards

 

Newbery Honor Book, 2012

 

  

Review Excerpts

 

"*Starred Review* Based on Lai's personal experience, this first novel captures a child-refugee's struggle with rare honesty. Written in accessible, short free-verse poems, Hà's immediate narrative describes her mistakes both humorous and heartbreaking with grammar, customs, and dress (she wears a flannel nightgown to school, for example); and readers will be moved by Hà's sorrow as they recognize the anguish of being the outcast who spends lunchtime hiding in the bathroom.  And even as she begins to shape a new life, there is no easy comfort: her father is still gone." -- Hazel Rochman, Booklist 1/1/11

 

"Narrating in sparse free-verse poems, 10-year-old Ha brings a strong, memorable voice to the immigrant experience as her family moves from war-torn South Vietnam to Alabama in 1975. First-time author Lai, who made the same journey with her family, divides her novel into four sections set in Vietnam, "At Sea," and the last two in Alabama. Lai gives insight into cultural and physical landscapes, as well as a finely honed portrait of Ha's family as they await word about Ha's POW father and face difficult choices (awaiting a sponsor family, "...Mother learns/ sponsors prefer those/ whose applications say ¿Christians.'/ Just like that/ Mother amends our faith,/ saying all beliefs/ are pretty much the same"). The taut portrayal of Ha's emotional life is especially poignant as she cycles from feeling smart in Vietnam to struggling in the States, and finally regains academic and social confidence. A series of poems about English grammar offer humor and a lens into the difficulties of adjusting to a new language and customs ("Whoever invented English/ should be bitten/ by a snake"). An incisive portrait of human resilience." -- Publisher's Weekly 1/31/11

 

"Told in verse, each passage is given a date so readers can easily follow the progression of time. Sensory language describing the rich smells and tastes of Vietnam draws readers in and contrasts with Ha's perceptions of bland American food, and the immediacy of the narrative will appeal to those who do not usually enjoy historical fiction. Even through her frustration with her new life and the annoyances of her three older brothers, her voice is full of humor and hope." -- Jennifer Rothschild, School Library Journal 3/1/11

 

 

About the Author

 

For more information visit: http://www.harpercollins.com/author/microsite/about.aspx?authorid=36544

 

 

Book Connections

 

The Lotus Seed  -- Sherry Garland; Tatsuro Kiuchi, Ill.

Children of the Dragon:  Selected Tales from Vietnam -- Sherry Garland; Trina
        Schart Hyman, Ill.

Vietnam:  The Boat People Search for a Home -- photos by John Isaac

  

 

Connection Activities

 

• Have each student consider having to leave their home and all they could carry with them was what would fit in a small bag.  What would they bring?  Where would they go?  How would they feel?  Write a poem in response to these questions.
• Invite a Vietnam vet or refugee to come share his/her insights into the people, culture, and war of Vietnam.

THIS IS JUST TO SAY: POEMS OF APOLOGY AND FORGIVENESS

Sidman, Joyce.  This is Just to Say:  Poems of Apology and Forgiveness.  Ill. by Pamela Zagarenski.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2007.  ISBN 978-0-618-61680-0.

Plot Summary
 

Sidman creates an imaginary class of six-graders who each write a poem, and deliver it to the offended party, apologizing for some wrong doing. In turn, many of the recipients write a poem in response.

 

 

Critical Analysis

 

Sidman has created an entertaining thematic collection of apologetic poems. Through the eyes of her fictitious sixth-graders, Sidman portrays the crisis events as perceived by these tweenagers. The book title and poems were inspired by the poem of William Carlos Williams. The first half of the book contains apologetic poems for a variety of offenses such as throwing the ball too hard in dodge ball or accidently getting a friend in trouble at school. The second half of the book contains poems in response to the apologies. Sidman uses different line lengths to create a poetry mixture of flowing versus staccato lines. She varies her poetic talents with the use of haiku, pantoums (the fictional editor's favorite poetry form), two-part poems, snippets, and rhymes. The language, imagery, and word choice are very dramatic: "the principal's eyes are like hot sparks", "the gooey hunks of chocolate winked at me as I gobbled them", and "those red rubber balls thumping like heartbeats against the walls and ceilings" are prime examples.  The reader is able to paint many colorful mental pictures merely through the reading of Sidman's verses.

 

Zagarenski uses classroom items in her illustrations throughout the book. Many characters are clothed in pages from a dictionary. Sheets of notebook and graph paper are used as the background in several illustrations. Ringed reinforcement labels are scattered haphazardly along some of the pages. The premise stated in the book is all the illustrations have been created by a student.  The reader will have to decide for themselves whether this approach is creative genius or has missed the mark in adding a new dimension to Sidman's topical poems.  All-in-all, this poetry collaboration would be a great addition to any collection.

 

 

Awards and Honors

 

Texas Bluebonnet Award Master list 2008-2009

Texas Bluebonnet nominee, 2008-2009

Claudia Lewis Poetry Award

Cybils Poetry Award

Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book

School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

IRA Teacher's Choice Award

New York Public Library's "100 Titles for Reading and Sharing"

Book Links Lasting Connection Book

 

  

Review Excerpts

 

"Children will find much to identify with in the situations presented in the apology poems, and they'll appreciate the resolutions given in the responses." -- Randall Enos, Booklist 5/15/07

 

"Sidman’s ear is keen, capturing many voices. Her skill as a poet accessible to young people is unmatched. Zagarenski’s delicately outlined collage drawings and paintings are created on mixed backgrounds–notebook paper, paper bags, newspaper, graph paper, school supplies. This is an important book both for its creativity and for its wisdom." -- Lee Bock, School Library Journal 5/1/07

 

"There's a range of topics and ability in the poems, from the "Roses are red / Violets are blue / I'm still really / pissed off at you" in the response section to the difficult form of a pantoum in "Spelling Bomb." Packed with the intensity of everyday pain and sorrow, kids and adults exchange the words that convey grief, delight, love and acceptance of themselves and others." -- Kirkus Reviews 3/15/07

 

 

Other Books by Joyce Sidman

 

Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature

Song of the Water Boatman: & Other Pond Poems

Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow

 

Visit her website for more information: http://www.joycesidman.com/

 

 

Other Books Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski

 

Sleep Like a Tiger by Mary Logue

Mites to Mastodons by Maxine Kumin

Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors by Joyce Sidman

 

Visit her website for more information: http://www.pamelazagarenski.com/Home.html

 

 

Book Connections

 

Saying I'm Sorry -- Laura Alden; Dan Siculan, Ill.

What to do When Your Mom or Dad Says --"What Should You Say, Dear?" -- Joy
        Wilt Berry; Bartholomew, Ill.

Forgive Me, I Meant to do It: False Apology Poems -- Gail Carson Levine; Matthew
        Cordell, Ill.

  

 

Connection Activities

 

• Have each student think of a time that either they should have apologized to someone or someone should have apologized to them. Write a poem of apology or forgiveness relating to that event.
• Pair the students and have them exchange their poems. Have each student write a responsive poem to their partner's poem.
• Have student's think of something or someone in history that did something wrong and write a poem about that event (e.g. the iceberg that sank the Titanic, the cow who allegedly started the Great Chicago Fire, or John Wilkes Booth after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln).

AT JERUSALEM’S GATE: POEMS OF EASTER

Grimes, Nikki.  At Jerusalem's Gate:  Poems of Easter.  Ill. by David Frampton.  Grand Rapids, Mich.:  Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2005.  ISBN 0-8028-5183-5.


Plot Summary

Grimes recounts the Easter story from Jesus riding through the palm frond-waving crowds through Christ's resurrection from the dead.  Throughout the tale, the author tries to imagine what various historical figures are feeling and allows the readers to follow along poetically.  The storyline is scripturally-based with references used primarily from the four gospels.


Critical Analysis

What a masterful collection of 22 poems Grimes has woven into the Easter story.  The storyline is intriguing on its own.  It is simple and to the point, yet it gives every reader, whether familiar with the Easter story or not, every significant detail of the impending death and triumphant resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The thematic poems are organized in correspondence to the chronological order of the Lord's last few days on earth.  Grimes uses short lines to create a staccato rhythm.  Her poetry varies in its rhyming pattern with free verse being the most common scheme throughout the book.   No specific sound reverberated detectably throughout the poems.  The language used is not designed to be symbolic or figurative.  The imagery the reader gets throughout this collection is more from the emotion of the story as a whole rather than particular word choice.  Sadness, anger, self-doubt, and unfailing love sweep through these emotional poems of Jesus' saving grace.

The topical collection of Easter poems could stand by themselves; however, the addition of Frampton's woodcuts put this book over the top.  The sharp angular figures depicted throughout showcase the raw emotion felt by the witnesses to their Savior's final acts.  The illustrations are so fitting in that one could envision someone carving illustrations, such as these, during the time of Christ Himself.  The combination of Grimes' poetic imaginations and Frampton's symbolic woodcuts work in perfect harmony to create a lasting and memorable reading experience.

  

Review Excerpts

"Grimes' clever wordplay (e.g., the scourging of Jesus is "the pastime of the Passion") will hold readers' attention, and her poems ask some important theological questions--whether, for example, Judas was a villain or just part of God's plan to save humanity. Frampton's woodcuts, which recall Byzantine artwork, especially in the wide-eyed, angular faces, are extraordinarily compelling. The bold colors and thoughtful, intricate patterning demand a second look." – John Green, Booklist 2/15/05

 

"Poetry is gentle yet thoughtful, alluding to the brutality of the execution while providing an almost prayer-like personal reflection. Multi-colored woodcuts suggest the emotion and mood of each scene in a parody of stained glass. A handsome, well-designed offering for middle readers and families." –  Kirkus Reviews 1/1/05

 

"Each poem is preceded by a brief synopsis of the event, often accompanied by the author's own musings and queries, which prompt readers to think and ask questions of their own.  Bold, handsome woodcuts reinforce the powerful drama depicted in poetry.  An outstanding effort worthy of inclusion in most collections." – Sally R. Dow, School Library Journal 3/1/05

 

Other Books by Nikki Grimes

 

Rich: A Dyamonde Daniel Book

Words with Wings

Meet Danitra Brown
Planet Middle School

Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel

Almost Zero
  

Visit her website for more information:   http://www.nikkigrimes.com/

 

Other Books Illustrated by David Frampton

Bull Run by Paul Fleischman
The Fairy Tales of Hermann Hesse translated by Jack Zipes
Riding the Tiger by Eve Bunting

Visit his website for more information:  http://www.jacketflap.com/david-frampton/34402

Book Connections

Who Was Born This Special Day? -- Eve Bunting; Leonid Gore, Ill.
The Christian Mother Goose Treasury -- by Marjorie Ainsborough Decker;
        Glenna Fae Hammond, Ill.

The Yellow Star : The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark -- Carmen Agra
        Deedy;  Henri Sørensen, Ill.

 

Connection Activities

• Have each student pick one of the 22 poems in At Jerusalem's Gate:  Poems of Easter and describe how the poem helped them understand how that person was feeling.
• Recall an event your students have studied (e.g. Christopher Columbus discovering America, Sir Isaac Newton and the law of gravity, Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel, etc.).  Have the students think about someone related to that event and write a poem which describes how they are feeling at that point in history.

THE LION & THE MOUSE

Pinkney, Jerry.  The Lion & The Mouse.  New York:  Little, Brown, and Co., 2009.  ISBN 978-0-316-01356-7.

Plot Summary

The roar of a lion is sure to instill fear into the bravest of creatures!  All jungle inhabitants, great and small, are quick to give the monstrous cat a wide berth and stay out of his path.  Unfortunately for an unobservant mouse, the lion's restless slumber is disturbed by the rodent when she accidently, and quite literally, stumbled upon him.  She was quickly caught by the king of the jungle, and dangled helplessly, with her tail grasped firmly in the ferocious feline's big paw.  The mouse was set to face a quick, and hopefully painless, death.  However, overcome with compassion, the savage beast released the little mouse to scurry home to tend to her nest of baby mice.  Some time later, the lion is snared in the trap of some heartless hunters.  The lion's kindness is repaid in full when the rodent, hearing the strangled cries of the feline, came to his rescue.  She gnawed through the ropes of the poacher's debilitating net and set the big cat free.  The Lion & The Mouse is a tale of two creatures, both with extremely big hearts, filled with compassion and humble selflessness.


Critical Analysis

With the exception of a few animal sounds scattered throughout this wordless book, the reader is left on his own to discover the story of The Lion & The Mouse.   The reader is taken on a pictorial safari as glimpses of elephants, baboons, owls, and various other creatures fill in the African backdrop to this rendition of a classic tale of Aesop.  Pinkney uses pencil, water colors, and colored pencils to create his illustrations of rich earth tones contrasted against the green foliage of the jungle.  The drawings of the lion show a wide range of emotion:  annoyance, compassion, nonchalance, sheer terror, skepticism, relief, and unwavering gratitude.  Although the pictures are stationary, the movement of the mouse is almost palpable as the rodent scurries here and there in search of safety, and later, in search of her new-found friend.  The story of strength through kindness is heralded loud and clear in Mr. Pinkney's masterful and award-winning work.

 

Awards

Caldecott Medal (2010)

2 X 2 Reading List (2010)

 

 

Review Excerpts

"Pinkney's soft, multihued strokes make everything in the jungle seem alive, right down to the rocks, as he bleeds color to indicate movement, for instance, when the lion falls free from the net. His luxuriant use of close-ups humanizes his animal characters without idealizing them, and that's no mean feat." -- Daniel Kraus, Booklist 7/1/09

 

"Contrast this version with Pinkney's traditional treatment of the same story (complete with moral) in Aesop's Fables (North-South, 2000). The ambiguity that results from the lack of words in this version allows for a slower, subtle, and ultimately more satisfying read. Moments of humor and affection complement the drama. A classic tale from a consummate artist."  -- Wendy Lukehart, School Library Journal 9/1/09

 

"Pinkney enriches this classic tale of friendship with another universal theme—family—affectingly illustrated in several scenes. Pinkney's artist's note explains that he set the book in Africa's Serengeti, 'with its wide horizon and abundant wildlife so awesome yet fragile—not unlike the two sides of each of the heroes.' Pinkney has no need for words; his art speaks eloquently for itself." -- Publishers Weekly 7/27/09

 

Other Books by Jerry Pinkney

 

The Little Red Hen

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi

The Little Match Girl
Noah's Ark

Aesop's Fables (Illustrator)

The All-I'll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll (Illustrator)

The Moon Over Star (Illustrator)
 

Visit his website for more information:   http://www.jerrypinkneystudio.com/


Book Connections

City Mouse-Country Mouse and Two More Mouse Tales from Aesop -- Illustrated by John Waller

The Lion or the Mouse?:  The Lion or the Mouse -- Toni and Slade Morrison; Pascal Lemaitre, Ill.

The Lion Book of Five-Minute Animal Stories -- John Goodwin


Connection Activities

• Divide the students into pairs or groups of three and give each a wordless book (e.g. The Boy, The Bear, The Baron, The Bard by Gregory Rogers, Sea of Dreams by Dennis Nolan, or The Arrival by Shaun Tan).  Allow each group to "read" their book and then share their story with the class. 
• After discussing this Caldecott winner's artistic ability and showcasing his talent, read excerpts from That's Like Me!:  Stories About Amazing People With Learning Differences by Jill Lauren.  In this book, sixteen adults and young people, including artist Jerry Pinkney and Antarctic explorer Ann Bancroft, describe how they overcome learning disabilities by focusing on their other strengths.  Use this to expound on the fact that even though people are different, they all have strengths and talents to share with the world.

THE THREE CABRITOS

Kimmel, Eric A.  The Three Cabritos.  Ill. by Stephen Gilpin.  Tarrytown, NY:  M. Cavendish Children, 2007.  ISBN 978-0-7614-5343-7.


Plot Summary

Once upon a time, there were three musical cabritos (young goats) who wanted to go to a fiesta (party) just across the border in Mexico.  In order to get there, however, they had to cross a bridge that was guarded by the dreaded Chupacabra ("goat-sucker", a vampire monster).  The three strapping young goats were not afraid of Chupacabra...that is until he jumped out and threatened to eat them one by one!  The first cabrito was very small and persuaded the monster to wait for his brother, because he was bigger and would make a better meal!  The second brother, although threatened by the goat-sucker, also gained safe passage with the promise of eating his much bigger brother, who was trailing just behind him.  When the third, very big and strong, goat was warned by the fierce Chupacabra that he was about to be eaten, the cabrito quickly surrendered!  All he asked was that he be allowed to play one last song on his accordion before the monster consumed him for dinner.  A prelude of music and dancing before dinner, "What could be better?", thought the goat-sucker.  As the young goat played his accordion, the monster danced and twirled, swung and swayed, and tapped and clapped.  Soon, however, Chupacabra grew weary and begged the young goat to stop.  Although he moaned, groaned, bargained, and cried, the music never ceased until the monster danced himself to death!  All three cabritos made it safely across the bridge and played all night at the fiesta.  Chupacabra was never heard of again...or so they say.


Critical Analysis

The Three Cabritos is an adaptation of the Norwegian folktale The Three Billy Goats Gruff with a southwestern flare and sprinkling of Hispanic culture.   Eric A. Kimmel mixes Spanish words and phrases into the story such as "buenos días", "cabrito", "fiesta", "gracias", and "señor".  A glossary and pronunciation guide is located in the back of the book to help young readers master any unfamiliar words.  The sentences spoken by the characters are short and choppy.  The book almost begs to be read with a Spanish accent.  Kimmel's words alone allow the reader to visualize the fate of the monster as he "shriveled like a punctured balloon" and became "as dry and brittle as a dead cactus."

Stephen Gilpin uses pencil drawings which he slathers in pastels using Photoshop.  His technique creates an eye-popping array of colors and action.  The drawings are a bit simplistic, emphasizing the fact that less can certainly be more.  The body language of the cabritos easily convey the sheer terror and fright of the first two goats as well as exude the confident strength of their big brother.  Chupacabra looks as if he is about to dance off the page as his feet swirl ferociously in six different directions while performing his fatal dance. 


 Review Excerpts

"Gilpin stands the goats on hind legs, gives them overalls, band instruments and big horsey grins and pits them against a spiny blue monster that resembles a cross between Yoda and a whale-sized flea. Ultimately, the dancing Chupacabra collapses and deflates in exhaustion. Any political implications in this fresh, original take on the familiar tale are (surely) inadvertent, and would go over the heads of younger readers anyway. "  Kirkus Reviews -- 2/15/07

"Kimmel builds to this humorous climax throughout the tale. The light tone is matched by Gilpin's glossy, pastel-hued cartoons. The protagonists are depicted with comically exaggerated features. Unlike the vampire-esque creature of modern urban legend, Chupacabra is shown as a not-too-frightening sky-blue blob. Match this fun variant with other versions of the original, e.g., Paul Galdone's classic (Clarion, 1981); stories set in the Southwest, such as Helen Ketteman's Armadilly Chili (Albert Whitman, 2004); or tales about the power of magic and music, like Pete Seeger's Abiyoyo (S & S, 1994)."   Joy Fleishhacker -- School Library Journal


Other Books by Eric A. Kimmel

Hannukah Bear
Bearhead:  A Russian Folktale
The Spider's Gift:  A Ukrainian Christmas Story

 Visit his website for more information:   http://ericakimmel.com/


Other Books Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin

Pirates, Ho!
The Hero Revealed
Sneezy the Snowman

Visit his website for more information:  http://sgilpin.com/


Book Connections

The Three Silly Billies by Margie Palatini and Barry Moser (Ill.)
Three Cool Kids by Rebecca Emberley
The Three Billy Goats Gruff retold by Stephen Carpenter


Connection Activities

• Divide the students into groups of three or four and give each one a different country (e.g. China, Africa, Germany, etc.).  Ask them to decide what the "kids" from their country would use to defeat the monster guarding the bridge.
• Invite a mariachi band to come play for the class (or watch one on tv) and have a fiesta!  If possible, have items like sombreros, tamboritas, piñatas, and maracas to showcase the Hispanic culture.

THE THREE HORRID LITTLE PIGS

Pichon, Liz.  The Three Horrid Little Pigs.  Wilton, CT:  Tiger Tales, 2008.  ISBN 978-1-58925-077-2.


Plot Summary

This fractured fairy tale describes the story from the perspective of the very nice and conscientious big friendly wolf.  The wolf has been misrepresented all of these years.  It was the three pigs who threatened to huff and puff...all because they were a bunch of spoiled little porkers.  The three pigs were so bad in fact, their own mother kicked them out of the house!  Forced to make it on their own, the unskilled and lazy pigs each set out to construct a house.  The first dastardly pig constructed a very unsteady house made of straw.  The kindly wolf, who was a builder by trade, felt sorry for the pig and offered his assistance.  The pig rudely yelled at the wolf to leave before he KICKED HIM OUT!  Sadly, the caring wolf left and came upon the second atrocious pig's house made of twigs.  Again, the benevolent wolf offered his building expertise.  His kind gesture was rebuffed by the obnoxious pig who threatened to THROW HIM RIGHT OUT!  The last of the three abominable pigs had not constructed a house at all, instead he had taken over the chicken's coop.  He rashly refused the sweet wolf's offer of a helping paw as well.   In the end, the three horrible pigs realized their error in judgment and the wolf, kind-hearted as he was, cooked them a big pot of soup, gave them a place to stay and, over time, taught them how to become builders themselves! 


Critical Analysis

Liz Pichon gives a humorous twist to the tale of the three little pigs.  She turns the tables, crafting a story around the antagonistic pigs and the hero wolf.  The author is repetitive in her description of the pigs as being "horrid", as if to remind her audience that the pigs are by no means the good guys in this story!  Her use of varying sizes of text emphasizes the ebb-and-flow of emotion in each scene.  The attention to detail in the illustrations give the readers clues to the lazy ineptness of the pigs.  One pig is covered in food or paint in half of the illustrations.  It was thought the book was soiled because the front cover is illustrated so well in this regard.  The reader sees that another pig can't even put his shoes on the right feet, much less construct a hardy structure!   The third pig, embodies the epitome of laziness as the illustration shows the chicken coop cracking as he wedges himself inside the too-small shelter.   By drawing the wolf in bibbed coveralls, a hard hat, a tool belt, and carrying a tool box, the illustrator conveys to the reader that he is an industrious professional which contrasts sharply with the good-for-nothing slothful pigs.  The colors throughout the book are bright and cheerful.  The illustrations don't show much in the line of background scenery, but the focus of the pages are so mesmerizing that the reader may not even recognize this fact.  Pichon conveys the message that those who are idle will wind up with nothing.  Good things will follow those who learn how to become productive in life.


Review Excerpts

"The full-color cartoon illustrations capture the pigs' bad behavior and comeuppance with a goofy exuberance. The font size shrinks and enlarges to mirror the action and the text works as a fun read-aloud as well as a read-alone."—Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha Public Library, WI School Library Journal, A Reed Business Information Publication

"Bright, bold drawings and a varied graphic layout playfully complement the story. Pichon particularly excels at creating zany facial expressions for her motley menagerie. Several twists on "The Three Little Pigs" are currently in print, but even in this crowded field, The Three Horrid Little Pigs will hold its own." -- Deborah Steinig, Children's Literature


Other Books by Liz Pichon

Penguins
My Big Brother, Boris
Bored Bill
Twilight Verse, Moonlight Rhymes (Illustrator)
Spinderella (Illustrator)
Santa's Reindeer (Illustrator)

Visit her website for more information:  http://www.lizpichon.co.uk/


Book Connections

Mowgli's Brothers by Rudyard Kipling
Eye of the Wolf by Daniel Pennac
There are No Scary Wolves by Hyewon Yum


Connection Activities

• Read different versions or variants of "The Three Little Pigs" (e.g. The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugenios Trivizas, The Three Little Tamales by Eric A. Kimmel, or The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by A. Wolf).  Discuss how the stories are similar and how they are not the same.
• Have students pick a fairytale and re-tell it with the hero becoming the antagonist and the villain becoming the protagonist.