Books for Independent Reading
VERY EASY
- Pig
- by Mary Ling
(Science/Health)
Dorling 1993 (24p)
The growth of a pig from birth to
adulthood.
- Rockabye, Crocodile
- by Jose Arueto and Ariane Dewey
(Multicultural)
Greenwillow 1988 (32p); 1993 paper
A Philippine fable about two boars
who learn how attitude determines
success.
- Pigs From 1 to 10
- by Arthur Geisert
(Math)
Houghton 1992 (32p)
Readers search for hidden numerals in
this story about 10 piglet brothers.
- Pigs From A to Z
- by Arthur Geisert
Houghton 1986 (32p)
Readers must find the letters hidden in
Geisert's illustrations.
- Smart, Clean Pigs
- by Allan Fowler
(Science/Health)
Childrens 1993 (32p); also paper
How and where pigs live and why they
behave as they do. Available in
Spanish asLos limpios e inteligentes
cerdos.
EASY
- All Pigs Are Beautiful
- by Dick King-Smith
(Science/Health)
Candlewick 1993 (32p)
A famous author tells why he loves
pigs.
- Pigs Will Be Pigs
- by Amy Axelrod
(Math)
Four Winds 1994 (32p)
The Pigs search their house for money
to eat out. Menu and prices included.
- The Fourth Little Pig
- by Teresa Celsi
Raintree 1990 (24p); also paper
A visit from their sister changes the
three little pigs' attitude.
- The Great Pig Escape
- by Eileen Christelow
Clarion 1994 (32p)
Pigs on their way to the market escape
to Florida.
- Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore!
- by David McPhail
Dutton 1993 (32p)
As the narrator tries to read, several
pigs wreak havoc in his home.
- Mrs. Goat and Her Seven Little Kids
- by Tony Ross
Atheneum 1990 (32p)
A cheerful, satirical updating of the
well-known Grimm classic.
- Cinder Edna
- by Ellen Jackson
Lothrop 1994 (32p)
Cinderella could learn something from
her feisty neighbor, Cinder Edna.
- Piggybook
- by Anthony Browne
Knopf 1986 (32p)
Mrs. Piggot's husband and sons are
such “pigs.”
- Pigsty
- by Mark Teague
Scholastic 1994 (32p)
Wendell Fultz's room looks like a
pigsty, so several pigs move in.
- The Gruff Brothers
- by William Hooks
Bantam 1990 (32p) paper
A new twist to the Three Billy Goats
Gruff.
- The Pigs' Wedding
- by Helme Heine
McElderry 1988 (32p); 1991 paper
Curlytail and Porker get married and
have a wild wedding reception.
AVERAGE
- The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
- by John Scieszka
Viking 1991 (32p)
A. Wolf gives his version of what
really happed in the famous tale.
Available in Spanish asLa verdadera
historia de los tres cerditos.
- The Tortoise and the Jackrabbit
- by Susan Lowell
Chronicle 1994 (32p)
A humorous retelling set in the
Southwest.
- Princess Furball
- by Charlotte Huck
Greenwillow 1989 (40p); also paper
A strong-willed princess overcomes
many obstacles in this Cinderella
variant.
- Tales of Amanda Pig
- by Jean Van Leeuwen
Dial 1982 (56p); Puffin 1994 paper
Five stories about Amanda Pig and her
brother Oliver. Available in Spanish
asCuentos de la cerdita Amanda. See
others in series.
- Piggins
- by Jane Yolen
Harcourt 1987 (32p); 1992 paper
Piggins, the very proper butler, keeps
things running smoothly. See others
in series.
- The Frog Prince, Continued
- by Jon Scieszka
Viking 1991 (32p); Puffin 1994 paper
The honeymoon is soon over for the
princess and the frog.
- The Amazing Bone
- by William Steig
Farrat 1983 (32p); 1993 paper
Pearl the pig needs help outwitting
robbers and a hungry fox. Available in
Spanish asEl hueso prodigioso.
- Wild Boars
- by Daniel Nicholson
(Science/Health)
Carolrhoda 1987 (48p)
A photo essay about the pig's wild
relative.
- The Three Little Pigs and the Fox
- by William Hooks
Macmillan 1989 (32p)
Appalachian variant.
- Garth Pig Steals the Show
- by Mary Rayner
(Music)
Dutton 1993 (32p)
More hilarious adventures of Garth Pig
and the Pig family band. See others in
series.
- Cinder-Elly
- by Frances Minters
Viking 1994 (32p)
Cinder-Elly stays home while her
sisters attend a basketball game in this
urban retelling.
- Parents in the Pigpen, Pigs in the Tub
- by Amy Ehrlich
Dial 1993 (40p)
When the pasture gate is left open,
farm aninals move into the house.
- Somebody and the Three Blairs
- by Marilyn Tolhurst
Orchard 1991 (32p); 1994 paper
In a reversal of roles, a bear visits the
home of three humans.
- Piggies, Piggies, Piggies: A Treasury of Stories, Songs, and Poems
- by Walter Retan
(Music)
Simon 1993 (96p)
An assortment of selections, some
illustrated, about pigs.
- Peeping Beauty
- by Mary Jane Auch
(Music)
Holiday 1993 (32p)
Poulette Pig wants to become a
ballerina, but the fox has other ideas.
- Ruthann and Her Pig
- by Barbara Ann Porte
Orchard 1989 (84p)
Ruthann's cousin Frank wants to
borrow her pet pig for protection from
bullies.
- Hooray for the Golly Sisters
- by Betsy Byars
Harper 1990 (64p)
Sisters May-May and Rose share
adventures that include disappearing
pigs.
- Dear Peter Rabbit
- by Alma Flor Ada
Atheneum 1994 (32p)
Peter Rabbit, Goldilocks, Red Riding
Hood, and friends exchange letters.
Available in Spanish asQuerido
pedrín.
- Chester the Worldly Pig
- by Bill Peet
Houghton 1987; also paper
When Chester joins the circus, he
quickly learns that farm life isn't so
bad.
CHALLENGING
- Quentin Corn
- by Mary Stolz
Godine 1985 (128p)
Learning he will soon become a meal,
Quentin disguises himself and runs
away.
- King Emmett the Second
- by Mary Stolz
Greenwillow 1991 (56p)
Emmett Murphy moves from New York
to Ohio and misses his friends,
especially his pet pig.
- Pigs Might Fly
- by Dick King-Smith
Viking 1982 (158p)
Daggie Dogfoot, a runt piglet with a
deformity, becomes the hero of the
farm.
- Farmer Palmer's Wagon Ride
- by William Steig
Farrar 1974 (32p); 1992 paper
Farmer Palmer's return trip from the
market is full of obstacles.
Books for Teachers to Read Aloud
- Zeke Pippin
- by William Steig
(Music)
Harper 1994 (32p)
When Zeke the pig plays his
harmonica, everyone falls asleep.
- That Extraordinary Pig of Paris
- by Roni Schotter
Philomel 1994 (32p)
Monsieur Cochôn , a pig of Paris, has
quite a day when he gets too close to a
pastry shop.
- Mrs. Pig Gets Cross
- by Mary Rayner
Dutton 1986 (64p)
Seven short stories about Mr. and Mrs.
Pig and their ten children.