The Three Pigs: Nacho, Tito and Miguel - Traditional Literature

Bibliography

Salinas, Bobbi. 1998. THE THREE PIGS: NACHO, TITO AND MIGUEL. Oakland: Piñata Publications. ISBN 0-934925-05-4.

Plot Summary

            Bobbi Salinas’ book THE THREE PIGS: NACHO, TITO AND MIGUEL is a retelling of the fairy tale THE THREE LITTLE PIGS with a Mexican theme, in two languages English and Spanish, set in the Southwest. It begins with Nacho, Tito and Miguel’s mother sending them out into the world to begin their adult lives.  She invites them to come home anytime they are in town for fresh tortillas and admonishes them to watch out for the bad wolf, Jose. Nacho, the first pig, buys some straw from a cow to build his house. Not long after the house is completed, the bad wolf Jose arrives. When Nacho will not let him in, Jose blows Nacho’s house down, ties him up and leaves him in the pigpen behind his house to eat later. Next, we see Tito buying wood from a beaver for his house. Again, Jose arrives and when he is not granted admittance blows Tito’s house down and adds him to the pigpen. Finally Miguel, the smartest of the brothers, buys adobe bricks from a frog and builds his house. Without fail Jose comes to his house as well, but here the plot deviates. When Miguel will not let him in and Jose cannot blow the house down, he tries several devious ways to lure Miguel out of the house. Miguel is not fooled by any of Jose’s schemes. Out of desperation Jose tries to capture Miguel by climbing down the chimney and falls into Miguel’s hot pot of green chile stew. Jose, injured by the hot stew, leaves Miguel’s house in defeat and Miguel is able to rescue his two brothers.

Critical Analysis

            The major difference in this version of THE THREE LITTLE PIGS is, of course, the fact that the pigs are Mexican-Americans. The book is written with English as the primary language, however a secondary Spanish translation is provided alongside the English version to assist non-native speakers. To make the language more realistic Ms. Salinas interspersed Spanish words within the English text, for example, “This pig will make some delicious carnitas and chicharrones for supper tonight!” Wherever Spanish words are used in the English text they are underlined and Salinas provides a glossary at the end of the book. By doing this she helps to not only encapsulate the sound of the spoken language in the text and create a culturally specific story, but she also introduces English speakers to the Spanish words.

Another major difference however is the non-violent nature of the story. The first two pigs are not eaten by the wolf and the wolf is not cooked by the third pig for dinner. An additional major departure is the fact that Jose tries to lure Miguel out of the house three separate times to eat him. Miguel, being smarter, is able to see through Jose’s tricks and outwit him. Thereby demonstrating to children that not only are there ways to overcome the scariest situations but it also can be done in a non-violent manner.

The plot is very episodic, moving from scene to scene in a quick progression full of action. Time, and in turn the story itself, has a fast pace to it. This technique keeps children’s attention focused. As do Salinas’ illustrations which resemble Mexican folk art, and they clearly delineate the setting of the story. Readers are instantly aware that this version of the tale occurs in the Southwest due to the landscapes, clothing and everyday items depicted in her images. The colors are vibrant and many traditional Mexican elements are intermingled throughout the pictures.  One excellent example of this is the illustrations of the interior of two of the pig’s houses. They have terra cotta tile floors and wood accents. Also, Tito and Miguel’s houses have references to famous Mexican figures. Tito has a Frida Khalo painting and Miguel has books referencing Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. All of these elements serve to showcase the culture being portrayed and serve to expose young readers of both nationalities to the finer elements of Hispanic culture.

Review Excerpts and Awards

Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award Winner 1999

THE PEOPLE’S GUIDE TO MEXICO review 1999: “An illustrated bilingual fable by the author of Indo Hispanic Folk Traditions, this is a delightful book that both adults and children will enjoy.”

CAHNERS BUSINESS INFORMATION review 2001: “…this book offers a spicy retelling of the familiar tale of the three little pigs. The excellent illustrations are entertaining, intelligent, and witty, offering lots of visual jokes and cross-cultural references to the likes of Elvis Presley, Frida Kahlo, Cesar Chavez, and Cantinflas.”

Connections

·    This book lends itself well to a Reader’s Theater performance. There are ideas in the back of the book for simple costumes that a teacher could incorporate into this production.

·    Introduce other Spanish retellings of fairy tales such as LITTLE GOLD STAR: A SPANISH AMERICAN CINDERELLA by Robert D. San Souci with illustrations by Sergio Martinez ISBN 0688147801. This book also highlights traditional Spanish elements in the guise of a well-known fairy tale.  

·    Children could be asked to create paintings similar to those of Frida Kahlo.