The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Lowell

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lowell, Susan.  1992.  THE THREE LITTLE JAVELINAS.  Ill. by Jim Harris.   Arizona: Northland Publishing.  ISBN  0873585429

2.   PLOT SUMMARY

In this southwestern version of the THE THREE LITTLE PIGS, the main characters are played by three javelinas, who are described as being cousins of the pig, while the wolf's role is played by a sly, yet magical coyote.  In the story, the three javelinas are traveling along in the desert in search of their fortunes.  After they separate, they each use desert resources to make their homes:  tumbleweeds, gathering sticks, and adobe bricks.  As with the traditional folktale, the coyote is able to knock down the first two homes made of tumbleweed and gathering sticks by blowing them away.  Luckily, the two javelinas are able to escape and join their sister who lives in an adobe brick home.  The coyote is able to track down the javelina family, and as expected, cannot blow down the sturdy home.  He even tries to slide down the home's stove pipe, but to his surprise, is met with a fire!  The coyote runs away leaving a dust of smoke, only to howl at the moon in sadness for his loss.

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Susan Lowell brings the southwest to life in her fantastic version of THE THREE LITTLE PIGS by cleverly using animal variations of the pigs and wolf to stay true to the traditional folktale.  She uses javelinas, which are known to be a type of wild pig, and the coyote, which is also a member of the canine species.  While the coyote and javelinas are given the ability to act and speak like humans (characteristics found in beast tales), Lowell goes one step further by adding the special elements of magic and trickery to the coyote.  In her book, Lowell describes that these magical abilities are often found in "many Coyote fables told by southwestern Indians, particularly those of the Tohono O'Odham."  In this version, the coyote uses his magic to run like the wind, alter his voice, and shrink his body to fit into a stove pipe. 

Through the dialogue shared between the javelinas and desert folk, Lowell introduces her readers to the different types of dialects heard throughout the southwestern region.  Readers learn that "Ha'u"  and "Sí" mean yes in the Native American and Spanish languages, respectively.  Lowell even offers her young readers help in correctly pronouncing the names of objects commonly found in the southwestern desert by providing pronunciation clues.  Hints such as "(ha-ve-LEE-nas)"  and "(a-DOE-be)" indicate how to break apart these challenging words, and help young readers to sound out each syllable and know where to place the word stress in the correct pronunciation.  The repeated use of phrases such as "I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in!" and "Not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin" will help readers recognize the correlation between this variation and the original folktale classic.  However, in Lowell's southwestern variation, she playfully adds her own touch of humor with the coyote's sassy comeback response of "Bah... I am not going to eat your hair!"

The enchanting southwestern culture is captured and reflected in Jim Harris' detailed drawings and illustrations, which reveal the desert landscape and arid weather conditions.  He incorporates drawings of plant life typically found in the desert, such as prickly pear cacti, saguaros, and red and yellow poppies.  In addition to the story's javelinas and coyote, Harris portrays other animals that live and thrive in the desert environment: quails, jackrabbits, rattlesnakes, and mice.  The vast mountain range  serves as the backdrop to this folktale version, which also includes realistic sketches of boulders, rocks, gravel, and soil.  

To further emphasize the arid desert-like conditions,  Harris wisely chooses a color palette that accurately captures the natural, muted colors found in the desert landscape.  As readers turn the pages, they see the many shades of the sandy brown earth and the blaring rays of the rustic yellow sun.  Harris stays consistent in his use of earthy color tones throughout the story until it's conclusion.  When readers turn to the last page, they see the smoky-purple night sky littered with specks of white stars, and a brilliant orange full moon peeking through a mountain of dark gray, silhouetted rocks.  

To add humor and personality to the three javelinas, Harris creatively dresses them in colorful, oversized cowboy western attire.  The cowboy hats, bandanas, chaps, and boots with spurs not only serve as the javelinas' fashion statement, but also remind readers of the type of attire needed by individuals who work on the hot desert ranches and farms of the region. 

Susan Lowell does a wonderful job of bringing together the different ethnic cultures found in the southwestern region through her use of character interactions.  To enrich her story, Jim Harris beautifully captures the landscape images that depict the way of life in the southwestern desert.  Although Lowell and Harris could have incorporated more scenes beyond the desert landscape, readers will enjoy this southwestern take on a beloved folktale classic.  

4.  REVIEW EXCERPTS

MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW:  "An engaging fable, with unique anthropomorphic color illustrations by Jim Harris, The Three Little Javelinas is an entertaining and transplanted storybook retelling of a classic children's fairytale favorite."

PARENT COUNCIL, VOLUME 1: "Wonderful, funny illustrations enliven this familiar text that is a delightful introduction to a blend of Native American , Mexican, and Anglo cultures."

PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: "This clever and flavorful change of scene puts a diverting spin on an old favorite... Sprightly fun."

Connections:

*Use this story to introduce students to the desert landscape of the Southwest.  You can pair it up with the Desert Biomes website, which can be found at  www.desertusa.com.  This website provides detailed descriptions, picture images, and videos of much of the plant and animal life found in the region. 

*Have students study other versions of this folktale that adapt to different cultures.  Then have them determine distinguishing cultural markers found in each version as well as how it relates to the original folktale.  Books to consider:

Artell, Mike.  THREE LITTLE CAJUN PIGS.  ISBN  0803728158

Kimmel, Eric.  THE THREE LITTLE TAMALES.  ISBN  9780761455196