The Three Little Tamalas

 

Bibliography:

Kimmel, Eric. 2012. THE THREE LITTLE TAMALAS. Ill by Valeria Docampo. Two Lions. ISBN: 0761455191

Plot Summary:

 An adaptation of The Three Little Pigs, with three little tamales instead. The book has three tamales who cool off when a tortilla rolls by. He tells them to run so they do. They each build houses in different areas much like the original Three Little Pigs, but Senor Lobo the Big Bad Wolf comes along to blow their houses down. Follow this tale that has added humor and a Southwestern twist.

Critical Analysis:

This is a fun book! It’s not exactly the traditional story but it is a version of The Three Little Pigs set in Texas near Mexico. Kids will really enjoy it; the connection to the traditional story is close enough that they can predict what will happen but different enough that they will giggle at the changes and enjoy it. I really enjoyed that Krimmel integrated the setting into the story by having the houses built out of items you would find in Texas that are largely known items plus parts of all the items that can be used in making tamales. The use of some Spanish words is a great way to use context clues to figure out their meanings but there is also a glossary if needed. The bilingual students will really enjoy this book and it would be fun for them to read it aloud too.

I also liked how the book tied in some of Kimmel’s other books such as The Runaway Tortilla who appears at the beginning of the story, and a variety of characters are included in the party at the end of the story.

Review Awards and Excerpt(s):

The traditional "Three Little Pigs" gets a southwestern flavor in Kimmel's latest updated tale, a takeoff on his previous The Runaway Tortilla (2000), illustrated by Randy Cecil. Taking their cue from the tortilla, three tamales from T"a Rosa's restaurant also decide to make a break for it. Each builds a different type of casita: the first of sagebrush, the second of cornhusks, and the third of cactus. When Se˜or Lobo makes his appearance, youngsters will have no doubt as to who he is: "I'll huff and I'll puff / like a Texas tornado / and blow your casita / from here to Laredo!" A glossary helps readers unfamiliar with Spanish, although most words are defined in context. Docampo's oils are filled with southwestern colors and details. Her tamales each have a stereotyped personality all its own: the mustachioed macho brother, the pretty but not-too-bright sister and the smart sister who wears glasses. A flavorful addition to the folktale shelf that begs to be shared with a group. (Picture book . 4-8) (Kirkus Reviews, February 1, 2009)

Connections:

1.      I would use this book with a variety of adaptations of The Three Little Pigs” and have my students in groups read one of the books. They could create a reader's theater of the book, and all the students could present their book. As a class we could discuss similarities and differences and why we think the authors had these changes in the story.

2.      Your students could do a comparison activity between the books.

3.      The students could write their own twist on the original story after reading a variety of adaptations.

Other adaptations are:

-          The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot by Margaret McNamara.

-          The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas

-          The Three Little Gators by Helen Ketteman

-          The Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark by Ken Geist

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4.      You could also use this book as a beginning to an author's study and have students then read a variety of Eric Kimmell books and have a book discussion. Most of his children's books are a twist to classic books.