This post was written as a Master's course assignment for Texas Woman's University.
Gravett, Emily. 2011. WOLF WON'T BITE! New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9781442427631
2. PLOT SUMMARY
This version of the classic tale The Three Little Pigs is a comical character reversal. Instead of the "Three Little Pigs" being pursued by the "Wolf," the pigs have essentially gotten the wolf on a leash and billed him as a circus act. The three pigs now include one female pig as well, and the trio promote their WOLF WON'T BITE! act by demonstrating how many ways they can humiliate the wolf. All the while the wolf is not tempted to eat them... but for how long?
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The simple plot moves quickly, with each act by the pigs more daring and death-defying. The text is sparse but exciting, with the airs of a circus ringleader, and the suspense of building up to the ultimate "main event" act. The author uses repetition to engage the pigs' pretend audience, and also the audience of readers experiencing the book. The ringing chorus theme of WOLF WON'T BITE! keeps the reader anxiously turning the next page to join in, and to see how extreme the next stunt will be. This is a book that begs to be read aloud.
The pigs are testing the notion that a mouth-watering carnivore (Wolf) will never test the boundaries that they have set up for him by trying to eat them. The good animal/bad animal theme gets a good dose of humor in this picture book, especially when the pigs test the wolf with the ultimate teaser... and expect him not to react like a wolf.
The picture book's illustrations are whimsical, charming, and reminiscent of Ian Falconer's Olivia. The painterly drawings utilize a common color scheme throughout, mostly pink, yellow, red, black, and grey, on a white background. This leaves plenty of room for the large, simplistic text to have a big impact.
The experimentation with changing between fonts from page to page adds a punch, especially towards the end. The words fit in around each illustration and encourage the turning of the page. The smug expressions of the pigs vs. the timid expression of the wolf add a great deal to the humor of the book and cause the reader to wonder exactly how long the wolf will remain placid.
The picture book's illustrations are whimsical, charming, and reminiscent of Ian Falconer's Olivia. The painterly drawings utilize a common color scheme throughout, mostly pink, yellow, red, black, and grey, on a white background. This leaves plenty of room for the large, simplistic text to have a big impact.
The experimentation with changing between fonts from page to page adds a punch, especially towards the end. The words fit in around each illustration and encourage the turning of the page. The smug expressions of the pigs vs. the timid expression of the wolf add a great deal to the humor of the book and cause the reader to wonder exactly how long the wolf will remain placid.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Review in Publishers Weekly - "Readers who see themselves as pushed and prodded by similarly obnoxious adults will let out a sigh of relief when the wolf rebels."
Review in School Library Journal - "Wolf Won't Bite! is an entertaining and original spin on the old wolf-and-pigs theme. It will delight children."
5. CONNECTIONS
*This book provides a humorous interpretation of THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. See other versions of this classic tale for comparison and contrast purposes.
*This book provides a humorous interpretation of THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. See other versions of this classic tale for comparison and contrast purposes.
*See other illustrated picture books by Emily Gravett for further examples of animals as leading characters.
*Examples of animals as leading characters in other picture books:
A BALL FOR DAISY by Chris Raschka ISBN 978-0375858611
Caldecott Award Winner TUESDAY by David Wiesner ISBN 978-0395870822
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