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We were absolutely delighted when Jon Scieszka invited us to film a video for the Children’s Choice Book Awards in his home. After filming in his study Jon was gracious enough to read one of his most popular books — The True Story of the Three Little Pigs — a retelling of the classic fairytale from the wolf’s point of view. Was the wolf really as bad as the pigs said he was? Could the three little pigs have been three little meanies? You decide.

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ABOUT THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
Written by Jon Scieszka, illustrations by Lane Smith
Published by Viking Books for Young Readers

A. Wolf is still sticking to his story: he was framed As for that huffing and puffing stuff? A big lie. A. Wolf was just trying to borrow a cup of sugar to make his poor old granny a birthday cake. Who should you believe, the pigs or the wolf? You read. You decide. With over two million copies sold, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs remains as funny and irreverent as the inventive minds of Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. Viking is celebrated it’s 25th anniversary in 2014 with a handsome gift edition, featuring a stunning new jacket with lots of silver. And there’s a surprise inside as well.

ABOUT JON SCIESZKA

Jon Scieszka was born in Flint, Michigan, the second of six boys born to Shirley and Louis Scieszka. Jon attended Culver Military Academy for high school. After high school Jon studied science and English at Albion College in Michigan. Upon graduating he in 1976 he moved to Detroit, then to Brooklyn, NY to write. He earned his MFA in Fiction from Columbia University in New York in 1980.

Jon taught at The Day Schooling New York City. He started as a 1st grade Assistant Teacher, taught 2nd grade, 3rd and 4th grade Math, 5th grade History, and 6th, 7th and 8th grade.

While teaching Jon realized children were the best audience for the stories he dreamed up. After taking a year off from teaching to write he sent stories to publishers. However this didn’t dissuade him from writing more — and painting apartments.

Jon met Lane Smith, an artist who was painting illustrations for magazine articles, and working on his first children’s book. Jon shared his story, A. Wolf with Lane. Lane drew illustrations for the book, then they shopped it around. Unfortunately, the story was rejected by every publisher to which it was sent. After many more rejections Regina Hayes, an editor at Viking Books, took a chance on the story. In 1989 the book was published as The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!. Since the then more than three million copies of the book have been sold.

It’s been more than 20 years since Jon and Lane started working together. As a team they have worked together on eight picture books and eight Time Warps. Lane’s wife Molly Leach has designed all of their picture books.

Jon’s books have won awards including the Caldecott, and sold over 11 million copies domestically and internationally.

Jon still lives in Brooklyn with his wife Jeri. They have two children: a daughter Casey, and son Jake.

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Read Out Loud
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Imagine being named Rump.  Imagine it.  Imagine what other kids could do with your name.  Especially when you live in a place that believes that your name is the key to your destiny.

Rump lives on the Mountain with his Gran.  His mother died when he was born, and Rump just knows there is more to his name, but his Gran does not know what it is.  Life in the Mountain is rather bleak.  The residents almost all work in the mines looking for the ever elusive gold to trade in to the miller for food.  One day Rump notices an old spinning wheel in with the firewood.  He asks his Gran about it and it turns out this was his mother's spinning wheel.  Even though it is beaten up, Rump polishes it up, thrilled to have something that belonged to her.

On rations day, Rump and his friend Red are on their way home when they see Kessler the peddler.  Aside from the regular wares, Kessler also deals in magic.  Against Red's advice, Rump trades some grain for a bit of magic.  The trick does go a bit wrong, and Red states that there are consequences for *all* magic, no matter how small, but Rump finds himself hungry for more.

Soon enough Rump discovers why the gold loving pixies of the kingdom have always favored him.  He finds he is able to spin hay into fine gold thread.  He promises himself he will only spin enough to get more food for him and Gran, but promises to oneself often go unfulfilled.  Before Rump knows it, he is bargaining away his own magic for a fraction of what it's worth.

This new twist on the Rumplestiltskin story will have readers looking at Rump with fresh eyes.  This magical world with its gold hungry pixies, message delivering gnomes, magic hoarding trolls, magical aunties and fierce best-friends pretty much begs for a film treatment.  There are pearls of wisdom dropped throughout the text, and readers will likely have many moments of taking pause to ponder over some of the ideas.  Happily, I read on twitter that there will be more titles coming from Shurtliff - one featuring Jack and another featuring Red.  I for one can't wait!

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