WOLF WON'T BITE

WOLF WON’T BITE!

a. Bibliographic data: Gravett, Emily. WOLF WON’T BITE! Ill. By Emily Gravett. Great Britain, London: Simon & Schuster, Inc. 2012. ISBN 9781442427631.

b. Plot summary: 

        In this unique variation of the three little pigs, three circus pigs show the world their mighty wolf that they’ve captured! They parade him around a circus, forcing him to do various circus tricks such as standing him on a stool, making him jump through hoops, and sawing him into half. Each event leads to the pigs confidently declaring, “Wolf won’t bite!” But, will the three pigs take it too far?

c. Critical Analysis:

         This version of the three little pigs parading the wolf in the circus focuses on the authority that the pigs have over the wolf, rather than the wolf typically having authority over the pigs.

         The illustrations on each page of the book lay on an all white background, which makes the reader focus more on the colors that surround the important yet subtle drawings. The multiple vibrant colors give the three pigs a united feeling in contrast to the lone grey wolf. The facial expressions of each character help the reader understand how the cohesive pigs and the lone wolf are feeling throughout the book. I found myself really locked on the Wolf’s facial expressions, which showed fear, sadness, and finally at the end, pride. Each “trick” that the wolf does is followed by the pigs declaring that the “Wolf won’t bite!” This puts the reader in a position of suspense, wondering if the wolf will actually give in and bite the pigs!

         The ending of this book answers the question that the readers have been asking. The students are encapsulated by the thought that, unlike the original three little pigs, the wolf is now the victim and the pigs are the perpetrators. However, when the three pigs decide to place their heads between the wolf’s mighty jaws, the wolf does in fact show his true side and bites the pigs! The last page, which is really isn’t considered a page at all, is what made my students laugh the hardest. The Wolf is chasing the pigs and has a piece of their clothes in his mouth!

        

d. Reviews:

"A welcome turnaround—and don't miss the closing endpapers. A slightly cryptic but satisfying wolf/pig reversal."--Kirkus Reviews

"Readers who see themselves as pushed and prodded by

similarly obnoxious adults will let out a sigh of relief when the

wolf rebels."--Publishers Weekly

"Gravett’s impeccable pacing, sly visual clues, and clever use of white space elevate this universal story of gloating gone wrong...is reminiscent of that of Falconer’s Olivia, and it is quite possible that these three pigs would enjoy her friendship very much."--The Horn Book

"WOLF WON’T BITE! is an entertaining and original spin on the old wolf-and-pigs theme. It will delight children."--School Library Journal

"The text is appealingly rhythmic, and the repetition of the “wolf won’t bite” will encourage children to join in the reading...The compositions are as bold as the saucy pigs themselves, and the pictures will translate as well to a crowd as they will to a single child. Wolf may not bite, but the kids will eat this up."--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Awards/Honors:

Emily Gravett, the author and illustrator of WOLF WON’T BITE!, is a Kate Greenaway Medal winner (x2) and the Nestlé Children's Book Prize Bronze Award winner for previous books.

e. Connections:

This wonderfully illustrated book has much to offer as far as activities are concerned. I found a great activity to pair with this book that my students loved. I prepared finger puppets beforehand and used them to retell the story afterwards. I then let the kids show me their own version of this story (or repeat the one I read to them if they wanted to). It was such a great way to see what they remember from the book and see them express emotion through retelling.

For older students, I think writing an alternative “three little pigs” story would be an interesting alternative to simply summarizing the story. This would be a good chance to go through the writing process with them as well, from drafting all the way to publishing.