Uh oh, just when you thought you knew the tale of The Three Little Pigs…author Stephanie Lang offers up another side of the Pigs and Wolf that will make you laugh and ponder the possibilities of what truly happened. Illustrations by award-winning artist, Ashley Belote, brings the story to life with plenty of humor! “As a mother and teacher this story opens the door to the important conversations about honesty and character building.” —Samantha Karinshak, elementary school teacher “Stephanie takes us on the untold journey of one of our childhood favorites; exploring complex childhood relationships and pressures, while keeping readers questioning what’s next.” —Natalie Cline, parent and linguist
STEPHANIE R. LANG is currently a special education teacher
in Monongalia County, West Virginia. She has a Master of Arts in elementary education and also in reading, along with ten years of teaching experiences. This book was prompted by her love for children, children’s literature, and reading.
Award winning illustrator, ASHLEY BELOTE, earned a B.F.A from Alderson-Broaddus College. She continued her graduate study through the Simmons College satellite graduate program at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA and has a Master's degree in Arts Administration from the University of Kentucky. She is also a graduate of the Don Bluth University Traditional Animation program. For more information visit ashleybelote.com.
Stephanie Lang illustrated by
Ashley Belote
The Untold Story of the Three Little Pigs Introducing Hampton, Piggie, and Porker Loin, and Gerald the Wolf by Stephanie Lang illustrated by Ashley Belote copyright ©2020 Stephanie Lang All rights reserved. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents, except where noted otherwise, are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any other resemblance to actual people, places or events is entirely coincidental. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any other form or for any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage system, without written permission from Headline Books. To order additional copies of this book, or for book publishing information, or to contact the author: Headline Kids P. O. Box 52 Terra Alta, WV 26764 Email: mybook@headlinebooks.com www.headlinebooks.com Ashley Belote—Art Director Lucas Kelly—Design/Layout Published by Headline Books, Inc. Headline Kids is an imprint of Headline Books ISBN-13: 9781946664853 Library of Congress Control Number: 2019949373 P R I N T E D I N T H E U N I T E D STAT E S OF A M E R IC A
For my daughter, Rachael. Always follow your dreams. I love you to the moon and back. Special thanks to my mom and dad for their unconditional love and support. The author wants to acknowledge and thank Dr. Andrea Bebell of West Virginia University for her help in discussing the original story-line and editing the final proof.
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Chapter 1
Most fairy tales begin with once upon a time, this one does too, but this one is anything but ordinary‌Once upon a time, in the land of Baconville, Ohio, there lived a family of pigs; Mrs. Loin, Mr. Loin, and their three little piglets, Hampton, Piggie, and Porker. Next door lived a family of wolves with a pup named Gerald.
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It was late August, the day before school was about to start, when brothers Piggie, Porker, and Hampton, along with their best friend, Gerald Wolf, were working on earning their bicycling scout badge before they had to return to school.
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“Only one day left!” said Piggie as they rode. “I love riding bikes!” “Agreed,” said Porker, “earning this badge was much better than the picking-up-garbage badge.” “Maybe we will be able to ride our bikes to school this year,” said Hampton. “Yes!” the others agreed. “I’m excited to have our end of the summer camp out tonight. What a great way to end the summer,” said Piggie.
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Chapter 2
“Morning, boys!” yelled Mrs. Loin the next morning. “It’s time for school. Don’t forget to pick up Gerald on your way… and you all can ride your bikes today.” The pigs were thrilled.
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The group arrived at school just in time for morning announcements.
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“Welcome back to Baconville Elementary. This is your principal, Ms. Rachael, speaking. I want to welcome our new kindergarteners and all of our returning students, in particular, our wonderful quarterback, Gerald Wolf, who will hopefully lead our Bobcats to the championship this year. Have a great day, Baconville Bobcats! Now turn your attention to your teacher as we say the Pledge of Allegiance.�
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Chapter 3
Good morning,” said Ms. Grace, their teacher. “We’re starting with math right away in order to prepare for our standardized test this November. This year the test will be Saturday morning right after the championship game.” “Oh, no…” groaned all the students. “Hampton, you’re going to help me study, right?” asked Gerald. “Of course. I always do,” replied Hampton. 16
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The next several weeks were spent playing, studying, earning more badges, and more studying. The first game of the season finally arrived against the Bristly County Beavers. The crowd cheered on the Bobcats as Gerald led them to an overwhelming win. Gerald did this again and again but was feeling the stress of football…and school…and scouts…and naps!
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“Hey, Hampton, can you help me with this math homework?” asked Gerald. “Yes,” replied Hampton. “Hey, Hampton, can you help me with this science homework?” asked Gerald. “Yes,” replied Hampton. “Hey, Hampton, can you help me with this social studies project?” asked Gerald. “Yes,” replied Hampton, this time with a small sigh. He was soooo tired. He was double timing his homework with Gerald’s and was so excited that football season was almost over. Gerald led his team all the way up to the championship game, finally!
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Chapter 4
“Good evening ladies and gentlemen. We have a sold-out stadium for the championship game tonight between the Baconville Bobcats and the undefeated Swineville Serpents,� said the announcer.
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There was running…there was catching…there were touchdowns…three for each team. It was all tied up with one minute on the clock. “The Serpents have the ball. What will the Bobcats do?” yelled the announcer. The game clock started. “Here comes the pass folks.” The Serpents’ quarterback launched a mighty throw. 25
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“SNATCH! Gerald grabs the ball right out from in front of the receiver! He’s going…he’s going…he’s gone! Touchdown Bobcats! THE CROWD GOES WILD!” The Bobcat fans celebrated late into the night.
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Chapter 5
When Gerald woke up the next morning, he was still exhausted. This was unfortunate because it was the morning of the standardized test…yikes! “This is not good,” he said, dragging himself out of bed and biking to school.
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“Please remember to clean off your desks and no cheating,” said Ms. Grace. What am I going to do? thought Gerald. I’m not ready, I’m tired and I forgot to eat my grapefruit! He looked around for some inspiration, some ray of hope. “Ah-ha!” Hampton’s paper was right there, and all of the answers he needed were in plain sight. “Yes.”
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Several minutes later, Ms. Grace looked up from her desk… “Gerald?! Were you staring at Hampton’s paper just now?” “No, Ms. Grace,” he lied. “Hampton asked me for help, so I turned around to tell him to stop talking. I’m so sorry,” Gerald said. “Hampton, please come see me in the hallway.”
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“Gerald has informed me that you were talking during the test. That means I have to assume you were cheating. You will receive a zero and I will be calling your mother.�
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“I wasn’t talking, Ms. Grace,” said Hampton, “I promise.” “I’m sorry, Hampton, but this is how we have to handle this.”
As the piglets walked home from school, Hampton knew he was in trouble.
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Chapter 6
n o t p m a H '' r i m i d Vla arin d n Ma in!!!'' o L Joe
om.
said M
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“The school just called, you are grounded young man.”
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The next Monday at school Hampton confronted Gerald. “Gerald, you need to tell my mom the truth,” he said. “Sorry man, I can’t. I don’t want to be kicked off the football team.” “I can’t believe you are going to ruin our friendship over this…” said Hampton. From that day on, the pigs and Gerald did not speak to each other…until the day of the housing crisis (at least, it would be a housing crisis for the Loin brothers, just keep reading).
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Chapter 7
It was class reunion time. Gerald walked up to his alma mater and he began to reminisce about all the fun he and the Loin brothers once had. He decided it was time to apologize to Hampton and rekindle their friendship, but the brothers did not show at the reunion. I’ll just have to pay them a visit, thought Gerald.
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He went to Piggie’s house first. Gerald knocked on the door but Piggie did not answer. Gerald was huffing and puffing by this time. “Piggie, please let me in. I want to explain about what happened all those years ago.” Inside, Piggie just ignored Gerald.
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“I want to apologize to you and your brothers,” Gerald added. He was slightly out of shape, so he was still huffing and puffing and huffing and puffing. All of a sudden, his huffs and puffs caused Piggie’s house to fall down!
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“Oh, no! What have I done?” Frightened, Gerald ran down the street to Porker’s house. Porker worked at the local lumber mill, so he built his house out of sticks. Gerald was yelling and huffing and puffing even more by the time he got there. “Call 911! Your brother’s house fell down!” 44
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Porker yelled, “Yeah, yeah…this isn’t the first time you’ve lied, why would I believe you now?” “I’m not lying!” yelled Gerald, “I’m here to get help!” Porker still wouldn’t believe him. Gerald knocked so hard that Porker’s house began to shudder and shake… all of a sudden, it, too, fell down! Oh no, thought Gerald, not again! He ran down the street to Hampton’s house.
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Chapter 8
Piggie and Porker’s neighbor looked out the window and saw Piggie lying on the ground under a pile of straw and Porker lying under a pile of sticks. She called the police. Once they arrived they issued a news alert. Alert! Alert! Alert!
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“Pigs, beware! An unidentified suspect is going around knocking down pig dwellings. The first two victims’ names have just been released, Piggie Loin and his brother, Porker Loin, of Baconville. All pigs are asked to evacuate Baconville and wait for further instructions.”
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Hampton was terrified. He decided to leave his home and go to the West Virginia outdoor camp, a pig’s dream. There were going to be so many animals there…the perfect place to blend in. As he was packing his suitcase he heard pounding on the door. “Hampton, let me in!” yelled Gerald. His house started to shake and began to crumble. Hampton ran out the back door just in time.
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He looked back to see his house fall down. He ran as fast as he could, making it to the airport just in time. He hopped on the plane, and looked out the window at the approaching wolf.
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The engine started, the seats shook, and they lifted up into the air leaving behind Gerald and his fuming anger. “Ahh…” said Hampton, “I’m safe.” What he didn’t see was Gerald hop onto the back of the plane, unlatch the luggage compartment, and crawl inside. 55
Hampton was indeed safe, but only safe for now.
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Uh oh, just when you thought you knew the tale of The Three Little Pigs…author Stephanie Lang offers up another side of the Pigs and Wolf that will make you laugh and ponder the possibilities of what truly happened. Illustrations by award-winning artist, Ashley Belote, brings the story to life with plenty of humor! “As a mother and teacher this story opens the door to the important conversations about honesty and character building.” —Samantha Karinshak, elementary school teacher “Stephanie takes us on the untold journey of one of our childhood favorites; exploring complex childhood relationships and pressures, while keeping readers questioning what’s next.” —Natalie Cline, parent and linguist
STEPHANIE R. LANG is currently a special education teacher
in Monongalia County, West Virginia. She has a Master of Arts in elementary education and also in reading, along with ten years of teaching experiences. This book was prompted by her love for children, children’s literature, and reading.
Award winning illustrator, ASHLEY BELOTE, earned a B.F.A from Alderson-Broaddus College. She continued her graduate study through the Simmons College satellite graduate program at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA and has a Master's degree in Arts Administration from the University of Kentucky. She is also a graduate of the Don Bluth University Traditional Animation program. For more information visit ashleybelote.com.