The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!

What if the big bad wolf was the victim of bad press? In this handsomely animated adaptation of the titular 1989 picture book—the first from the children's literature powerhouse team of writer Jon Scieszka and illustrator Lane Smith—poor plagued-with-a-cold Alexander Wolf is busy making a cake for his beloved granny when he discovers that he's run out of sugar. Cup in hand, our lupine hero sets out to visit his first neighbor, a “not too bright” pig who has built his house out of straw. When an uncontrollable sneeze demolishes the first little pig's abode and leaves the porker “dead as a doornail,” Alexander sees no good reason to let a perfectly fine ham dinner go to waste. But he still doesn't have that sugar, so he sets off to the next house. Wonderfully narrated by Paul Giamatti, The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! hilariously upends the traditional tale in a delightful blame-the-victim (of circumstance) parody that will appeal to viewers of all ages. In addition to a read-along option, the DVD also features a very entertaining interview with Scieszka and Smith, who sound like a comic tag team as they riff back and forth on the genesis of the book (which was initially rejected by many for being “too sophisticated”). Highly recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (R. Pitman)