This picture book begins placidly (and familiarly) enough, with three pigs collecting materials and going off to build houses of straw, sticks, and bricks. But the wolf's huffing and puffing blows the first pig right out of the story ... and into the realm of pure imagination.

The transition signals the start of a freewheeling adventure with characteristic David Wiesner effects - cinematic flow, astonishing shifts of perspective, and sly humor, as well as episodes of flight.

Satisfying both as a story and as an exploration of the nature of the story, 'The Three Pigs' takes visual narrative to a new level. Dialogue balloons, text excerpts, and a wide variety of illustration styles guide the reader through a dazzling fantasy universe to the surprising and happy ending.

Fans of Tuesday's frogs and Sector 7's clouds will be captivated by old friends - the Three Pigs of nursery fame and their companions - in a new guise.