posted on 27 Oct 2016

Three Little Pigs at Haycorns Preschool, Dorchester

Last summer my mother spotted a call for people to read stories at a local playgroup in her Parish magazine. I was intrigued and so went along to offer my services whenever I was available.  My first visit was very enjoyable as I had been asked to bring along some of my many versions of the traditional tale, The Three Little Pigs and shared these with a lively group of three and four year olds. They had already heard the story the week before and so were able to join in with the familiar refrain 'I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in' and all the others. I find that it helps to have some props when reading stories and so took along a fabulous wolf puppet and a trio of three storybook pigs who I suggest have never performed together: Preston Pig, Babe and Pigling Bland. 

First we looked carefully at an unusual book designed in the form of a carousel trying to spot the wolf hiding behind the trees. I showed them one with some very different illustrations by Mark Teague which is a particular favourite of mine with very piggy pink unclothed characters who live on a farm employed by a farmer and his wife before they are sent on their way in the world. As ever, a lift the flap version by Richard Johnson with a cover showing three chirpy dancing pigs and a monocle wearing wolf licking his lips proved to be very popular as the children were able to take turns to help me as well as guessing what was behind. 

We also looked at the version by Eugene Trivizas, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury which inverts the usual goodies and baddies with interesting effect. This one is very witty but I soon realised was a bit too demanding for most of these children who loved the pop up effects but looked a bit perplexed at the three little wolves and the big bad pig. I guess that this sophisticated sense of humour develops a bit later but the staff thought it was funny! I had taken along several more offbeat versions to demonstrate how differently the characters could be portrayed but kept these in my bag - I'll try these ones with older children. 

I'm really looking forward to my visit next month when I have been asked to bring along some stories on the theme of bears - how on earth will I choose?

Karen Argent

October 2016