The 3 little pigs take to the road

David Gordon has worked for Pixar, developing such favorites as Toy Story and Monsters, Inc. (both big, big, HUGE hits at our house), the more recent Cars (Momma, I Light-nin 'Queen!) and the ubiquitous Spongebob. He is also the author and illustrator of Three Little Rigs and The Ugly Truckling. These are boy-ified, or at least truck-ified, versions of The Three Little Pigs and The Ugly Duckling. The Ugly Duckling has always been one of my favorite stories, but I am realizing that the concept is actually quite tricky for young children. Upon hearing the traditional story, told or sung, my nearly five-year-old always asks how the ugly duckling managed to turn into a swan. The Ugly Truckling sets up the same dilemma. The little truckling is actually an airplane, not a truck, but even with Gordon's fine illustrations, that fact slides right by my boy.

On the other hand, The Three Little Rigs is a new favorite. The big bad wrecking ball takes the place of the big bad wolf. He threatens to "crash ...and bash...and smash" the house in. Who could resist such sibilance? The big bad wrecking ball gets assistance from the alliterative mean magnet and cruel cutter. Oh dear! How will this end? Let's just say that there's a big pot and a steel mill involved.