First published over a century ago, L. Leslie Brooke's picture book captures the beloved folk tale in rich, warm illustrations that have delighted generations of children. The story follows three pig brothers as they leave home to seek their fortunes, each choosing a different material to build their house: straw, furze, and brick. Only the third pig, the one who works hardest and plans longest, builds something that can withstand the wolf's huffing and puffing. What follows is a tension-filled game of cat and mouse, as the wolf schemes to enter the brick house and the clever pig turns the predator's own tricks against him. The tale crackles with the satisfaction of brains over brute force, of careful preparation over lazy shortcuts. Parents may wince at the wolf's fate (he ends up in a pot of boiling water), but children have cheered this ending for centuries. The book endures not because it's gentle, but because it tells a truth children instinctively understand: the work you do now determines the safety you have later.
