This statement helps readers to connect with the story of The Three Little Pigs and once again adds to the humor of the story. He goes on to tell Gritch that he's 'been chasing three little pigs for days'. The wolf is obviously injured and tells the witch to forget about the pigs. Palatini continues to use intertextuality as we encounter a wolf on opening 14.

This interaction is repeated as Gritch encounters pigs dressed as different farm animals. Everywhere it quack-quacked,' before it finally tells her that there are 'no piggies'. As she talks to one of the 'ducks' she finds that 'the duck quack-quacked here. Her first encounter is with the pigs dressed as ducks. Palatini also uses familiar lyrics from the song 'Old MacDonald' as Gritch encounters pigs in disguise throughout the book. On opening 6, readers get to view a double page spread illustration of the pigs putting on various farm animal costumes inside of the barn. Part of the fun of this book is that the reader is let in on how the pigs are going to evade Gritch. Margie Palatini is asking the reader to make connections to familiar children's songs in order to add to the humor and the plot of the story. This ad also gives the location of the farm as being 'over the river and through the woods'. On opening four we find an ad for 'Old MacDonald's Farm' that instructs Gritch to call 'EI-EI-O' to get in touch with Old MacDonald. Piggie Pie relies on intertextualuality to tell the story of Gritch the Witch and her quest to get her hands on some 'piggies' so that she can make 'piggie pie'. The refrain - a reworking of the traditional children's song, Old MacDonald - makes this one an excellent read-aloud selection! Piggie Pie! is the second book by Margie Palatini that I have tried, following upon her Aesopic adaptation, Lousy Rotten Stinkin' Grapes, and it confirms my initial impression that here is a picture-book author whose sense of humor I can really appreciate! With an exuberantly villainous witch - brilliantly depicted in Howard Fine's pastel illustrations - an amusing turning of the tables by some very smart pigs, and a rather sharp ending involving a Wolf, there is much here to entertain the young reader/listener. But her eager 'declaration of war' - she writes 'Surrender Piggies!' in the sky with her broom - alerts her porcine prey, who turn out to be a little too clever for her. Turning (naturally) to the yellow pages, Gritch discovers a listing for Old MacDonald's Farm, and sets off immediately. When Gritch the Witch wakes up one day, she is simply famished, and only Piggie Pie will do! Unfortunately, she has no little pink piggies on hand.

Piggie Pie! by Margie Palatini