When I saw this title I was happy! When I read the opening lines I was happier. But once I finished the book, I was the happiest of all! Today for Perfect Picture Book Friday, I am doing another Rick Walton book. I have already reviewed Once There Was A Bullfrog and you’ll find that review HERE.
Pig Pigger Piggest
Written by Rick Walton
Illustrated by Jimmy Holder
Gibbs Smith 2003 Ages 4-8
Themes: Compromise, Fairy Tales
Synopsis: (From Rick Walton’s website) When three brothers–Pig Pigger and Piggest–meet three sisters–Witch, Witcher, and Witchest–the union is, well, rather stormy. And it’s one that grows in increments, too, from big to bigger to biggest, in as many unusual ways as you can imagine. (Look at all the pictures carefully!)
Opening Lines: Once upon a time, there were three pigs: a big pig named Pig, a bigger pig name Pigger, and the biggest of the three name Piggest. They all lived in the castle of their father, the king.
One day their father called them in. “Pig,” he said, “when you were born you were a little pig. And Pigger, you were an even littler pig. And Piggest, you were the littlest of my dear, sweet, dirty babies. But now you are great big pigs. And this castle isn’t big enough for the four of us. It is time for you to go out and build homes of your own.”
“Oh, yay!” the pigs said. “Homes of our own!” And off went Pig, Pigger, and Piggest.
Resources:Activities, Compare Three Things, Descriptives/Comparatives/Superlatives Word List, Discussion Questions, Draw a Descriptive/Comparative/Superlative Picture, Find Comparatives and Superlatives in Your World, Can You Find the Following in Pig Pigger Piggest?, Nursery Rhymes About Pigs, Play Hink Pink, Tell Your Own Three Little Pigs Story, Write Your Own Superlative Story
Why I Like This Book: Pig Pigger Piggest is extremely and funny. The story kept me engaged all the way through and invited me back for rereads. I think Rick Walton is unbelievably great at writing stories that fit with school curriculum. Just look at he list of resources, and they’re all from his website. He cleverly uses Descriptives/Comparatives/Superlatives all the way through the story. “And soon he had a tall-wall, thick-brick castle of his very own. And soon he had a taller-wider, thicker-bricker castle of his very own. And soon he had the tallest-wallest, thickest-brickest castle of all.” The lively illustrations by Jimmy Holder are incredible and include funny details like: For Sale: Cheap Sheep, For Sale: Cheaper Sheeper, For Sale: Cheapest Sheepest in Kingdom. Read this book…if you wait one day you will be sorry. If you wait a week, you will be sorrier. If you wait longer, you will be the sorriest of all 🙂
Susanna Leonard Hill features Perfect Picture Book Friday on her blog. This is a wonderful resource if you are wondering what books to give as gifts, needing material for a lesson, and mainly just perfect for those who love to read picture books. Here is a list of books by category. This is very handy for finding books for lessons in the classroom, or for finding books on a particular topic to discuss with your children at home. Each book listed has a link to a review and information about that book. There is also an alphabetical list.
Penny Parker Klostermann 
Penny, I love this book just on the title alone! You had me at “Pigger”. I have just put this down on my reading list as one of the first, firster and firstest to read. Thanks for popping by my first of many firstest PPBF Posts…okay, I’m getting carried away by the title 🙂
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Isn’t PPBF all kinds of awesome??? awesomer??? awesomest??? It’s so easy to get carried away by this book. I had a lot of fun writing this review! Thanks for browsing around my older reviews! Hope you find lots of treasures to add to your reading list.
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This is the best…no…bester….no…bestest PPBF choice. 🙂
So funny, Penny…and I love the fact that it is such a clever retelling of an old classic. The resources are fantastic as well!
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It is the bestest!!!!!
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Oh Penny, I could understand your fascination with this picture book. Fats has done an amazing review of this picture book when we had our fractured fairy tale theme (or was it our Pig-Tale Yuletide Special, I can’t recall any longer). But, yeah, we did a series of reviews on the fractured retelling of the three little pigs and this one is an absolute favorite. Thank you for sharing this in PPBF, truly perfect picture book worthy! 🙂
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I love the retellings. They are one of my favorite types of picture books to read. I am writing one myself right now…still in the draft stage 🙂
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This book sounds super-clever! I will definitely be checking this one out!
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It is very clever,, Amy. I bet you’ll enjoy it.
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Susanna started her comment with exactly the words that were in my mind — you had me at the title, Penny! And I love the way you wrote your review with the super and more super and most super-latives throughout. This looks like such a fun way to learn. I love “stealth learning” where one doesn’t even realize one is learning, because the process is so much fun.
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Oh…I like that term “stealth learning”….nice!
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Sounds fun and funny. I’m sure I’ll love it. Thanks for the recommendation!
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Have fun with it Christie…it’s a keeper.
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Another fun one Penny. Plus, I like a funny book dealing with compromise. We are fast-approaching a little stubborn one in our household.
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Kids have a way of being that way, don’t they??? Maybe this will open the door for compromise.
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I agree with everyone! I would get the book just for the title! I like funny books 🙂
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It’s good….it’s better….it’s the best!!!
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Ha,ha. I love the title. And I appreciate that the author carried out superlatives throughout the book.
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Yes…it is very clever and extremely fun!
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That title is bodacious! I have to move this one up to top on my list. What an awesome book to have. Ordering it today from Amazon. Thanks. I love books like this. 🙂
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Great, Robyn. Pop back over after you’ve read it and tell me what you think 🙂
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This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for the past three weeks (along with 30 other library books). Will have to read it now. I think my girls will love it.
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Oh…I’m so glad you have it. I think you and your girls will thoroughly enjoy it.
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Okay, the title and cover grabbed me immediately! Too cute! It is a wonderful retelling of a classic, but unique in its own way so that kids will easily identify. Sounds like such a funny book. The fact it held your attention throughout, is what I like to hear. Thanks for a great review!
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I hope you find it and read it, Patricia. It will make you smile.
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How fantastic, I have to get this!
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I believe it will be a perfect fit for you Catherine. You have such a way with words and such a sense of humor that it should be a good one…better one…ok maybe the best!
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You had me at the title, Penny! This sounds great! And a book that teaches about comparatives and superlatives in a fun way can only be good. I always like retellings of classic tales, too. Thanks for sharing another humorous title with us! 🙂
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Yes….another good book for teachers. It will fit into several areas of the curriculum.
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