The Three Little Javelinas

This isn't just any coyote, which are themselves more clever than wolves or foxes, this is Coyote, the Trickster. But the girl javelina is even smarter.

Great read-aloud, even to the point of telling the reader, within the text, the correct way to pronounce saguaros.

Marvelous illustrations, reminiscent of Jan Brett but without the busy borders. I love the riff on The Mona Lisa.

I will look for more by both author & illustrator.

Reread - review stands. I have rounded up from 4.5 stars because I think it's so fun and smart that every child and family should read it. As should everyone interested in the desert SW USA. Good author's note, too.

Preschool students and beyond will enjoy this funny and clever book that retells the classic story of the Three Little Pigs. The tale takes place in the Southwest and follows the javelinas throughout their journey. The javelinas encounter a coyote (rather than a big bad wolf) that is a trickster and wants to eat the javelinas. Read this story to see who outsmarts who. Does the coyote get to eat the javelinas with red chili sauce?

The three little pigs told southwest style. Instead of hay and sticks, they use tumbleweeds and saguaro ribs. The third pig uses sturdy adobe instead of bricks. A tricky coyote hunts them, using his coyote magic that is mainly taken from Tohono O'odham fables.

This retelling of an old classic folk tale is fun and zippy, with bright pictures that are hilarious and complement the text. The javelinas are adorable and you can't help hoping they'll win, even as you already know that they will. Luckily, none of them get eaten in this rendition. As always, I find great pleasure in reading retellings, and I especially appreciate the new setting of this version, as I grew up and continue to live in the southwest. Also, the author adds some solid show more geographical and cultural information from the region that enhances the story. This version is a welcome addition to the cannon of Three Little Pigs literature. show less

I enjoyed The Three Little Javelinas because of its creative spin on the Three Little Pigs, The creative and colorful pictures, and the multicultural elements. The Three Little Pigs is a traditional tale that has been retold in hundreds of different ways. This book puts a different spin on the tale and makes it unique to a southwestern culture. This makes the story unique and engaging while remaining true to the traditional fable. The pictures in the book also enhance the story. The pictures depict a colorful pack of javelinas (pig-like animals typically found in dessert climates). The pictures give each javelina a unique personality, while the story doesn’t directly address this. Finally, the book has several multicultural elements. show more For example, some of the words are repeated in Spanish and the only human in the book is a Native American woman. These multicultural elements enhance the story and engage the reader. They also introduce children to different cultures and different ways of life. show less

"The Three Little Javelinas" was a very enjoyable book to read. As the javelinas journey through the desert, they face obstacles that they must overcome. The story was very engaging for readers. I liked this book a lot because it gives the reader an opportunity to see a culturally diverse version of the traditional story "The Three Little Pigs". While sticking true to the story line of the traditional version, Susan Lowell added details unique to southern culture, including Spanish-speaking characters and a Native American character that the javelinas come across on their journey. I would highly recommend this book for younger readers because it allows them to see the similarities/differences between the traditional version while also show more experiencing a different culture. show less

I really enjoyed reading this book because the illustrations really grabbed my attention. When the targeted audience are younger readers, it is important for the story they are reading to be engaging. This book is really interesting because it is a different version of The Three Little Pigs. This can give readers a different perspective of the story they have heard many times. Even though this story has many similarities, there are a few differences that really stick out. There is a Native American women in the story, which represents a population that is hardly seen in children's books today. I would highly recommend this book.

This book was a nice twist to the three little pigs. It had several points of diversity for Native American groups and Spanish speaking groups. It also represents life on the dessert with different animals, and lifestyles and jobs for the groups that live there. There's also a hint of female equality represented since the female Javelina built the brick house. This book would be great for a discussion about diversity through the original story of the three little pigs. This book can be a nice way to spark conversation about diverse living styles.