Three Dojo Dudes! Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz

ONE UPON A DANGEROUS TIME
A WOLF LOVED TO HUFF AND PUFF.
HE'D GO AROUND THE TOWN.
AND BLOW HOUSES DOWN.
TILL THREE LITTLE PIGS CRIED, "ENOUGH!"

Luckily, these are three little pigs of Nippon, so instead of leaving home to seek their fortunes, they head out to the local dojo to learn some martial arts.

The first little pig chooses aikido. and masters a few militant moves, but getting bored, he moves on to build his own little thatched hut, sure that he can take on any mangy marauder. The second little pig selects a second type of martial art, jujitsu, "KIYA!," he calls, as he concludes he now knows quite enough to kayo any wolf that comes down the pike.

"BUT, PIG-SAN, YOU MUST STUDY MORE," THE MASTERS SAY.

But it's Sayonara, Sensei! as the second little pig becomes another dojo dropout, and settles down in his comfy little stick-built house.

The third little pig is more perseverant. She stays in karate school until she becomes herself a master of all the moves.

BY THE TIME SHE WAS THROUGH,
SHE COULD BREAK BOARDS IN TWO
BY PERFORMING A PERFECT PORK CHOP!

Confident in her karate skills, she builds herself a sturdy brick hog home and settles down. But before she can even invite her brothers over for a cup of swill, the Wolf decides it's time to pester pigs again.

The first two pigs face him bravely, but find that they are somewhat lacking!

YO, BACON!" HE HOLLERS.

The imperfectly prepped pigs are soon., shall we say, "blown away" by the Wolf.

"PIGGONE! I WISH I HAD BEEN MORE PREPARED!"

And in the best tradition of this familiar story, it's all up to the third little pig, who quickly teaches the Big Bad Wolf not to mess with a pig in a gi!

Corey Schwartz' fractured fairy tale, The Three Ninja Pigs (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2012) is an unique re-telling of this traditional oft-told tale with an original setting, done up in limerick verses that kids will love. Inventive artist Dan Santat contributes another set of his unique cartoon-styled illustrations that keep the plot moving along until the ninja pig knocks off that pesky predator and provides him with a well-deserved comeuppance.

THREE PIGS FOLLOW THEIR OWN MOJO,
THEY RAN THEIR OWN DOJO...

And presumably live happily ever after.