This is one of those books that changed children's literature—before Scieszka, fractured fairy tales weren't really a thing. Nearly 30 years later, it still works.

The genius is in the execution: A. Wolf tells his story as if he's being interviewed from prison (the 'Pig Pen'), complete with a noir aesthetic and tabloid-style framing. He's charming, reasonable, and totally full of it. Kids instinctively know he's lying, which makes them feel smart. Adults appreciate the media criticism baked into every page.

The book teaches critical thinking, perspective-taking, and healthy skepticism without feeling like homework. It's short enough to hold attention, funny enough to request repeatedly, and layered enough that you notice new jokes on the tenth read. The 4.9 Amazon rating and multiple awards aren't flukes—this is legitimately great.

The only caveat: yes, the pigs get eaten. But it's handled with such matter-of-fact humor that it's not scary. If your kid can handle the original Three Little Pigs (where the wolf tries to eat them), this version is actually less intense.