The Old Woman and Her Pig

Parent's Choice Award Winner 2007

Citation:

The Old Woman and Her Pig:  an Appalachian Folktale by Margaret Read MacDonald. Illustrations by John Kanzler. (Harper Collins Publishers, 2007).  28p. Traditional Picture Book.

Summary:

A mom trying to return home to her son before dark seeks the help of other animals persuading her pig to cross the bridge.

Critique:

a.         The vibrant illustrations bring the joy and concern of the mother to life and the feelings of the animals.

b.         The bright array of colors portrays feelings as the mother travels to town and home from the market.  As darkness begins to fall, the mother concerned about getting home to her son, but taking comfort that the moon shines at night.  The colors of the animals are intense to encourage the reader to focus on their plights and desires.  The cat, who loves the son, eventually starts a chain reaction that motivates the pig to cross the bridge so the mother can get home to her son.

c.         “And the old woman began to cry.  ‘I can’t get to my little boy tonight.  It’s almost dark…but the moon does shine’” (p. 13, 16, 18) is repeated in the story and when she retells the story to the cat he complies with her request and they all make it home to the boy where the moon is shining brightly upon the farm.   

Curriculum Connection:  

The Old Woman and Her Pig could be best served in an early elementary school classroom where perseverance and asking for help is covered in a social emotional lesson.  It could also be used within a social studies lesson of country life.  While some of the words are not familiar to all children the meaning will quickly be discovered as the story progresses and engage the students along the way.