The Old Woman and Her Pig

The Old Woman and Her Pig 
retold by Eric Kimmel
Illustrated by Giora Carmi 


Bibliography

Kimmel, E. A., & Carmi, G. (1992). The old woman and her pig. New York: Holiday House.

Plot Summary

In this lighter version of an old British folk tale, Eric Kimmel and Giora Carmi provide a read aloud full of fun.  The story opens as an old woman buys a pig with a found penny.  Her trouble begins when the pig refuses to cross a stile and she wants to get home!  Follow the old woman as she seeks help from a dog, a stick, some fire, some water, a horse, a rider, a rope, a rat, a cat who wants some milk, a pile of hay, and a cow who has some milk.

Critical Analysis

As befits a folk tale, the characters in the story to not grow or develop, yet they serve the plot adequately.  There is a definite problem and a satisfying resolution with lots of action to keep the pace lively.  The real fun comes in this cumulative tale from the easy to repeat pattern that develops as characters are requested to help the old woman.  The story does lose some of the appeal of the original while trying to be gentler, but will certainly be appropriate for the younger set.

The colored pencil illustrations draw a smile from the reader as they complement the plot, showing faces on things like vegetables, stones, and trees and spelling “NO” with such as a dog's tail, fire, rope, and a horse's legs!  The English countryside is sweetly portrayed, showing a time from “by-gone-days", as they say in England.

Review Excerpts

*Susie Wilde (Children's Literature): “Illustrations by Carmi stretch the humor of the story…”

*Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, 1992): “An elegant retelling of a favorite old tale...”

*Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, 1992): “An earnest attempt to provide a nonviolent alternative…”

Connections

*Try these other versions:

The Old Woman and Her Pig: An Appalachian Folktale retold by Margaret Read MacDonald

The Old Woman and Her Pig: An Old English Tale retold by Rosanne Litzinger

*Eric Kimmel has other folk tales for you to enjoy.  Here are some that also have teacher’s guides.  Especially fun are the Anansi stories!    

*Can’t get enough Giora Carmi illustrations?  You may like these:

A Circle of Friends by Giora Carmi

A Journey to Paradise and Other Jewish Tales retold by Howard Schwartz

The Rooster Prince retold by Sydell Waxman