Three Little Sprigs

Description:

In the Woodland Kingdom, it is time for all the young ferns and flowers to strike out on their own and build their grown-up homes. Three sisters, Sassy, Starling, and Serena Fern, can't wait to build their new homes. But they must be careful-if they don't build them strong enough, Lonely Wind and Stinging Rain could knock them down!

To help them in their quest, the sisters may ask Night Wind to send them each a Helper. Sassy and Starling Fern know who to ask for, but Serena is unsure. Will Serena be able to choose the right Helper in time? Or will Lonely Wind and Stinging Rain wash her new home away?

In this imaginative retelling of The Three Little Pigs, children will enjoy entering a world full of surprises and lively characters, and take with them a gentle reminder about the importance of making good choices.

Brief description: Lintang Pandu Pratiwi was born in Indonesia. She has worked for many years as a professional illustrator and created many picture books for various publishers and clients. Through her studio, Taranggana, Lintang has been published throughout America, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Japan. She loves art and nature and is inspired by the nostalgia of childhood innocence and beautiful countryside. Lintang's parents, Widayati Sri Wulandari and Mudjab Widjaya, are her biggest inspirations in life. Having their everlasting and continuing support has provided her with good examples of how to live her life and be successful in her own way.

Review Quotes: "This engaging riff on the story of the three little pigs subtly updates the tale for the social media generation, all the while working in clever nature references. At the heart of the story is the question: what values shape your life? A humorous and thoughtful discussion-starter for storytime or the classroom."

--Kathy MacMillan, NIC, MLS

American Sign Language interpreter

and author of The Runaway Shirt

"Terry Marsh's book, The Three Little Sprigs, is a wonderful example of the power of kindness. The children (ages 5-10) could not wait until the end to see what Helper that Serena got."

-Karen Bowers, center director

Amber Mayer, assistant director

KinderCare Learning Center

"The Three Little Sprigs is a magical retelling of a classic fairytale. My fourth-grade students were immediately intrigued by this story of self-discovery. As we journeyed along with Serena, Sassy, and Starling, it became clear there were lessons to be learned from these little sprigs. This book was a delightful tool to instruct my students about the importance of kindness. As an educator, I found many wonderful potential uses for this story, from science labs to social emotional lessons."

-Faith Frankenhauser

Maryland public school fourth grade teacher

"Terry Ann Marsh's retelling of The Three Little Pigs is sure to delight young readers. Marsh combines warmth and gentle humor in her tale of The Three Little Sprigs who must each choose a Helper to build a home that can withstand the wind and rain. Will they choose Fame? Fun? Or someone else altogether? A magical story with whimsical illustrations, Three Little Sprigs will leave kids clamoring for more."

-Courtney Ryan, PhD, University at Albany, SUNY

SCBWI Eastern NY volunteer