BOOK REVIEW – TRADITIONAL LITERATURE - THE THREE LITTLE JAVELINAS

BOOK REVIEW – TRADITIONAL LITERATURE

THE THREE LITTLE JAVELINAS

(This is for an assignment:  LS 5603 @ TWU)

BIBLIOGRAPHY   

Lowell, Susan.  1992. THE THREE LITTLE JAVELINAS.  Ill. by Jim Harris.  Flagstaff, Arizona. ISBN 0329035118

PLOT SUMMARY

Lowell’s THE THREE LITTLE JAVELINAS is an adaptation of THE THREE LITTLE PIGS with a similar storyline.   Each javelina seeks his own way in the world.  The first and second javelinas do not put much thought into how well-built their house is or if it will protect them.  They build their houses with whatever materials are handy and easy to use.  The third javelina built her house based on her discernment of the world and its dangers.  She wisely built a strong house to withstand many dangers.  All three javelinas, in turn, are hounded by a coyote. The third javelina outwits the coyote and all three of them ‘live happily ever after.’  The fate of the coyote is ambiguous.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Lowell has taken a classic folktale and transformed it into a southwestern tale.  She has done her research by using vocabulary that comes from the Spanish (javelinas, adobe, si), the Native American/Indian (saguaro, ha’u), the American English (tumbleweed), and the *American Spanish (coyote).  This folktale is both a beast tale and a fairy tale with magic and a happy ending. 

She also develops a rhythm for the protagonist’s and main character’s dialog by repeating three phrases:  “Little pig, little pig, let me come in.”; “Not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin!”; “Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in!”  This repetition can easily be vocalized by children of all ages to give them a part in the story and to keep them focused on the story.

Mr. Harris’ paintings are full of cute western costumes and humorous facial expressions.  He captures the antics of the characters perfectly:  coyote blowing, the house and javelina tumbling, the javelinas sweating and running, the magic of the coyote’s disguise, and the frightened javelinas. 

AWARDS

Jim Harris has been honored with these awards for his illustration of THE THREE LITTLE JAVELINAS:

Arizona Young Readers Award 1994
PBS Reading Rainbow 1994
Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award Finalist 1996
OneBookAZ 2010.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (9/14/92): “Lowell spices the story with elements of Native American. Mexican and Old West culture”

TEACHER BOOK WIZARD: “Harris's exuberant illustrations give a realistic picture of the landscape, but depict the characters with playful exaggeration, dressing the dapper javelinas in snazzy western duds.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:  “This engaging retelling appears in both Spanish and English, and has many accurate regional details. The text is fast-paced and witty in both languages, and is accompanied by energetic, full-page illustrations done in rich earthy tones that evoke the setting as faithfully as the text. Whether read aloud or in amused solitude, this is a picture book that will be enjoyed again and again.”

CONNECTIONS

Other books to read are:

Ward, Jennifer. THERE WAS A COYOTE WHO SWALLOWED A FLEA.  ISBN 0873588983

Lowell, Susan.  JOSEFINA JAVELINA: A HAIRY TALE.  ISBN  0873587901

Guiberson, Brenda Z.  CACTUS HOTEL (OWLET BOOK). ISBN  9780805029604

Trivizas, Eugene.  THE THREE LITTLE WOLVES AND THE BIG BAD PIG.  ISBN  068981528X

Lowell, Susan.  DUSTY LOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS.  ISBN  9780805075342

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*coyote. 2000. THE FREE DICTIONARY.   http://www.thefreedictionary.com/coyote.  Accessed June 19, 2011.