Lowell, Susan 1992. THE THREE LITTLE JAVELINAS. Ill. by Jim Harris. Flagstaff, AZ: Northland Publishing. ISBN 0-87358-542-9
PLOT SUMMARY
This story is a runoff from the traditional story of The Three Little Pigs. A modern touch of using wild pigs called Javelinas and a coyote instead of the traditional wolf are this stories characters. The first javelina builds his house from tumbleweeds. The coyote blows the house down, but the javelina escapes as coyote sneaks behind. The second javelina builds his house from sticks found inside a saguaros cactus. His brother arrives and they nestle next to each other inside the house for a nap. Soon after, the coyote blows the stick house down and the two javelinas escape to their sister’s house. The sister’s house was made of adobe bricks and was very sturdy. The coyote is unable to blow this house down, so he decides to creep down the stove pipe. Thinking ahead to what trick the coyote might attempt next, the third javelina lites a fire inside the stove and causes the coyote to burn himself when he tries to sneak down the stove pipe. Coyote frantically removes himself from the pain and runs off in a coyote framed cloud of smoke.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This European tale starts traditionally with “Once upon a time,” but also has an added flare from the American Southwest region utilizing the Native American Desert People and their surroundings. The characters include three wild pigs known as javelinas that are typically rough and hairy in nature. In this story the two brothers and sister javelinas are creatively adorned in western apparel from head to toe amongst their very hairy bodies. The other character that plays an antagonistic roll of wickedness is the coyote. He is a typical wild looking dog that lives amongst the southwestern desert area and is personified by many to be a trickster, but things never end up in his favor. He claims to have magic powers for disguising his voice and shrinking his body to be very skinny.
The setting is in a hot dessert with lots of saguaro cactus, little shade, and dry dusty lands.
The plot is quickly established as the three little javelinas separate from each other in the desert to find their good fortunes. The first boy javelina has the least brains of the bunch. He encounters a dust storm and decides to build his house from all of the tumbleweeds lying about. It of course is blown down by the hungry coyote. Javelina number one escapes literally by the hair on his chinny-chin-chin, but is followed by the sneaky coyote.
The second boy javelina has a few more brains than his brother. He observes a Desert Person collecting sticks from the inside of dried out cactus. He inquires about having some of the sticks to build a house and the Desert Person responds in her native language, yes. After the house is finished, javelina number one finds his brother and new house and stops in for a rest. This of course is the perfect timing for the coyote to make his second appearance. He jokingly lets the javelinas know that he is not interested in eating the hair on their chins, he wants some flesh! The two escape safely and find the house that their sister built.
The third javelina had thebiggest brains of the three and built her house with strong adobe bricks. Safely inside the house, the javelinas are beckoned by the coyote once again to open the door and let him in. Third times a charm, right? Well, the third javelina firmly told coyote, “No!” He threatened to blow her house down and she challenged him to just try it. Since the house wouldn’t budge, the determined coyote decided he could sneak down the stove pipe to get to his pig dinner. The wits of the third javelina outsmarted coyote again by lighting a fire in the stove before he came down which sent toasty coyote running away in a smoky trail.
This tale is completely opposite of the stereotypical boy saving the day scenario. The girl javelina in this story is presented as the smart one of the bunch. Not only does she have intelligences, but she also demonstrates how she can take up for herself and be a lady in charge. I am woman, hear me roar!
Humor abounds throughout this tale, but the story ends on a most humorous note which helps bring the southwest desert flare to a close. Since coyote is a prominent animal in the desert, if you are ever out in the desert at night and you hear coyote howling, you can be sure that he is remembering the toasty encounter he had with javelina number three’s stove.
Coyote repeats the threatening phrase, “I’ll huff and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house down,” at each of the javelinas’ houses. We ultimately see that good triumphs over evil since the three little javelinas lived happily ever after.
Jim Harris’ illustrations are hand sketched with a lot of detail before the medium of color is added. Never been to a desert region in the Southwest? Well, the background scenery in this book truly gives ample detail of what it would look and feel like if you visited such a place. Mind you not everyone dresses in cowboy duds in real life as shown in the book. The three little javelinas appear to be fun and jovial in the story. However, these creatures are actually very mean and aggressive in real life.
This folktale is a very good starting point for teaching about the culture and geography of the Southwest Region. Digging deeper for a better understanding of what Native American groups inhabit the area as well as what other groups of people populate the area in present times would be worthwhile. Digging into past history and seeing what has changed would also be relevant.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Grand Canyon Reader Award
Mockingbird Award 1993-1994; Nominee; Texas
Booklist: “Harris' illustrations are appealing and humorous, however, and children who loved the original will enjoy this version.”
Publishers Weekly: “This clever and flavorful change of scene puts a diverting spin on an old favorite. Harris's lively, finely detailed illustrations, with the bristling, pink-nosed peccaries clad in cowboy outfits, amusingly contrast the villain's vigorous wiles with the title characters' cozy domesticity. Sprightly fun.”
Horn Book: “In this southwest retelling of "The Three Little Pigs," the setting and characters work comfortably within the tale's framework. A coyote seeks anthropomorphic javelinas in tumbleweed, saguaro rib, and adobe houses made with help from Native-American and Latino characters. While depicting the true landscape, the illustrations exaggerate the homely "pigs" with very hairy chinny-chin-chins for a riotous adventure.”
CONNECTIONS
*A comparison of research to find out the similarities and differences between javelinas and pigs
*The story could be done as a Reader’s Theater piece
*Students could learn exactly what a tumbleweed is
*Taste test the red fruit found on a Saguaro Cactus
*Learn how to say “yes” in as many different languages as possible
*Learn more of the Desert People language
*Discover the animals, temperatures, and plants typically found in a southwestern area desert
*Teach a language lesson on using superlatives, for example: strong, stronger, and strongest
*Have students create their own version of The Three Little Pigs in a different setting location and different materials the houses are made from.
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