LibGuides: The Three Little Guinea Pigs (Show Me Reader Nominee 2025-2026): Home

Grade Level

1st - 3rd Grades

Library Standards

MASL Standards:

Reading Engagement:
- K-2 Competency: Students will compare and contrast stories to identify similarities and differences.
- 3-5 Competency: Students will analyze how different authors approach similar themes or topics.
Information Literacy:
- K-2 Competency: Students will recognize different perspectives in various texts.
- 3-5 Competency: Students will evaluate diverse viewpoints and integrate them into their understanding.

AASL Inquire Standards:

I.A.1: Learners display curiosity by formulating questions about a personal interest or a curricular topic.
I.B.3: Learners generate products that illustrate learning.

Missouri Learning Standards

1st Grade 1.R.1.C.a: Develop and apply skills to the reading process by determining connections between texts, including similarities and differences in fiction and nonfiction.

2nd Grade 2.R.1.C.a: Compare and contrast versions of the same stories from different authors, cultures, or time periods.

3rd Grade 3.R.1.C.a: Describe the relationship between events, ideas, concepts, or steps in texts, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect.

Time Frame

1 class period of 30 minutes

Lara Garrett, Wanda Gray Elementary, Springfield Public Schools

This lesson was created by Lara Garrett from Gray Elementary School, Springfield Public Schools, MO

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Summary

Students will compare and contrast The Three Little Guinea Pigs by Erica Perl with a traditional version of The Three Little Pigs. Students will engage in whole-group read-alouds of both versions, followed by a guided comparison using a large Venn diagram. The objective aligns with Missouri Reading standards, focusing on making text-to-text connections.

Materials

The Three Little Pigs (Choose a version, such as The Three Pigs by David Wiesner (ISBN: 978-0618007011) or The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka (ISBN: 978-0140544510)
Large Venn diagram (chart paper, whiteboard, or interactive board)
Individual Venn diagram worksheets for students
Markers, pencils, or crayons

The Three Little Guinea Pigs by Erica S. Perl; Amy Young (Illustrator)
ISBN: 0374390045
Publication Date: 2023-02-28
A laugh-out-loud retelling of The Three Little Pigs, The Three Little Guinea Pigs is perfect for fans of fairytales and guinea pigs alike. This clever story by prolific children's book author Erica S. Perl and dynamic illustrator Amy Young makes a perfect read-aloud and includes nonfiction backmatter with additional fun facts about guinea pigs. Once upon a time there were three little pigs... three little guinea pigs! Their names were Rosie, Minty, and Pumpkin. They lived with their mama in a cozy little house. Then they bid her a fond farewell and set off on their own. So far, so good.... But what will they do if a hungry fox comes along? Will they go wheek, wheek, wheek all the way home? Or can they find a way to save their fluffy behinds?
The Three Pigs by David Wiesner
ISBN: 9780618007011
Publication Date: 2001-04-23
"Clever, whimsical and sophisticated." --New York Times Book Review Taking visual narrative to a new level, this picture book from the creator of Tuesday and Flotsam begins a seemingly familiar tale of three pigs preparing to build houses of straw, sticks, and bricks. But when the Big Bad Wolf comes looking for a snack, he huffs and puffs the first little pig right out of the story . . . and into the realm of pure imagination! Dialogue balloons pepper a wide variety of illustration styles taking readers through a dazzling fantasy universe to the surprising and happy ending. You will never look at "The Three Little Pigs"--or artwork--the same way again! "A funny, wildly imaginative tale that encourages readers to leap beyond the familiar; to think critically about conventional stories and illustration, and perhaps, to flex their imaginations and create wonderfully subversive versions of their own stories." -- ALA Booklist, Starred Review

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

Compare and contrast two versions of a familiar tale.
Identify character, setting, and plot similarities and differences.
Discuss how authors add unique twists to traditional stories.

Grade-Level I Can Statements:

1st Grade: I can find things that are the same and different in two stories.
2nd Grade: I can compare and contrast characters, setting, and events in two versions of the same story.
3rd Grade: I can analyze how different authors change details in a classic story and explain why those changes matter.

Instructional Procedures

Warm Up

Begin by asking students if they have ever heard the story of The Three Little Pigs. Allow a few students to share what they remember.
Introduce The Three Little Guinea Pigs and explain that today, they will listen to two stories and compare them to see what is the same and what is different.
Ask students:
- What do you think will be the same in both stories?
- What do you think might be different?

Read Aloud

Read The Three Little Pigs
- Pause to ask comprehension questions:
  - Who are the characters?
  - What problem do they have?
  - How does the story end?
Read The Three Little Guinea Pigs
- Pause for similar discussion questions:
  - Who are the characters in this version?
  - What problem do they have?
  - How does the story end?
  - How is this story different from the first one?
  - What do you notice about the way the guinea pigs act compared to the pigs?
  - What happens to the "bad guy" in this version?

Guided Practice

Students help complete the Venn diagram as a class.
Students draw or write about what is the same and one thing that is different on their worksheet Venn diagrams.
Discuss why they think the author made changes to the story.
Optional Extension: Rewrite The Three Little Pigs with a new setting or different characters.

Closure

Review the class Venn diagram together.
Ask:
- What was the biggest difference between the two stories?
- What was the biggest similarity?
- Why do you think authors change details in familiar stories?
End by emphasizing how stories can be similar but have unique twists. Encourage students to look for connections between books they read in the future.

Assessment

Observe students’ participation in discussions.
Review Venn diagram responses for understanding of similarities and differences.
Have students turn to a partner and verbally share one thing that was the same and one thing that was different.
Call on a few pairs to share with the group.

Differentiation

For students needing extra support: Provide sentence starters or picture-supported Venn diagrams. Pair them with a peer for the comparison activity.
For advanced students: Encourage them to create their own fractured fairy tale using a different animal or setting.
For EL students: Use visual aids, gestures, and translated keywords. Offer a simplified summary of both stories before reading.