Book Review: THE THREE LITTLE JAVELINAS/ LOS TRES PEQUEÑOS JABALÍES by Susan Lowell

Image source:

Books in Print (via TWU Databases). http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125/SearchResults.aspx?q=quicksearch- all%3A[9780873586610]&op=1&qs=1

Lowell, Susan. 1996. The Three Little Javelinas / Los tres pequeños jabalíes. Ill. by Jim Harris. Trans. by Northland Publishing. Flagstaff: Luna Rising. ISBN13 9780873586610

                The delightfully diverse variant of The Three Little Pigs titled The Three Little Javelinas / Los tres pequeños jabalíes by Susan Lowell is a bilingual English / Spanish treasure. Illustrated by Jim Harris, the characters come to life as the text and images bring out the culturally diverse region of the Southwestern portion of the United States.  Set in the desert, three javelinas, two male and one female, take separate journeys to create the ideal homestead. Unfortunately, the sinister coyote has another plan. He is looking to have them for a meal!

                The plot is one of humor and cultural encounter, as we join the javelinas in meeting members of the indigenous tribe of the Tohono O’odham or Desert People. The archetype of the big, bad wolf is represented by the coyote, and we find him losing the battle. The two male javelinas have a wise sister, who builds the adobe home where everyone ends up safe and sound.

                Many cultural markers are displayed through language, dress and custom. The woman gives the female javelina some saguaro ribs from the cacti traditionally harvested by the Desert People. Southwestern style clothing is worn by the javelinas with a cowboy hat, boots and even an umbrella to protect from the hot summer afternoon. Also, presenting this story in Spanish reaches the many inhabitants of the United States who speak both English and Spanish, or primarily Spanish as a first language.

                The style is also magical, as the coyote has powers to make himself “thin” and slide down the chimney, and also disguise his voice to sound just like a javelina. Thick with adjectives, the text supports the attention to detail represented in the images. A painting of the classic Mona Lisa hangs in the female javelina’s home, which suggests a bit of European influence. The images and text work together perfectly. As Donna Murray notes in her School Library Journal review, "... rich earthy tones that evoke the setting as faithfully as the text." (Books in Print, 1996).

                Children’s librarians across the state of Texas can entertain and teach children using this elaborate tale. Many have heard the cries of coyotes at dusk, and seen indigenous peoples, and those like the cowboy who speaks Spanish to the little female javelina. The heat of a summer’s day is no stranger to children in Texas, and they will truly enjoy the illustrations of the little javelinas sweating in the desert heat. One literacy activity may involve pointing out the differences between a pig and a javelina. Bringing illustrations of pigs and javelinas can allow for a non-fiction discussion of these related animals.

References:

Books in Print (via TWU Databases). Accessed September 18, 2013.         http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125/SearchResults.aspx?q=quicksearch- all%3A[9780873586610]&op=1&qs=1

Lowell, Susan. 1996. The Three Little Javelinas / Los tres pequeños jabalíes. Ill. by Jim Harris. Trans. by Northland Publishing. Flagstaff: Luna Rising. ISBN 9780873586610