Module 9--Where's the Big Bad Wolf

Where's the Big Bad Wolf

Synopsis: In this retelling of the Three Little Pigs, Detective Doggedly appears to help solve the mystery of how the pig's houses keep getting destroyed.

Citation: Christelow, Eileen. Where's the Big Bad Wolf? (2002) Illus. by the author. New York: Clarion.

My thoughts: I loved the mystery of this, and I don't like mysteries. That is probably because the pictures were so entertaining and told the whole story. I loved particuarly the cows who were always trying to take care of the dumb little pigs.

Library usage: It would be interting to have a mystery night at the library. You could adapt this into a play of sorts and have the kids guessing what's next.

Review:

PreS-Gr. 1. Variations on the story of the "Three Little Pigs" are hardly in short supply, but this comic version has its his own pleasures, including a dumb dog detective and a wily wolf, who is literally in sheep's clothing. It's not that Detective Doggedly hasn't previously caught Big Bad Wolf, the town's only criminal. However, every time he intercepts Wolf committing a crime, Doggedly lets him go, relying on Wolf's promise that he'll never do it again. Of course, when the homes of the three little pigs keep getting blown down, the Wolf is the chief suspect. But Wolf is at home sick in bed, and the only animal at the scene of the crime is a kindly sheep who seems to be offering the pigs aid and advice ("Build a stick house. It's so easy!"). What's a detective to believe? Kids will know the answer; even little ones will be able to spot the wolf's visage under the woolly curls. As usual, Christelow provides cartoon-style artwork of the highest quality, complete with balloon dialogue. There's fun in both text and pictures, and here familiarity breeds hilarity.

Cooper, Ilene. "Christelow, Eileen. Where's the Big Bad Wolf?" Booklist 15 Oct. 2002: 410. Literature Resource Center. Web.