Do you ever wonder about the rest of Humpty Dumpty’s family? Or how about a Cajun version of the Three Little Pigs? Here are some familiar children’s picture book tales – only with a twist. These books are good for ages 3 through 8.

Let’s start with The Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark by Ken Geist, and illustrated by Julia Gorton. This take-off tale from “The Three Little Pigs” takes place under water only each little fish builds their home a bit differently. One builds a “weedy little house”, another builds a “sandy” one and the last one ends up residing in a sunken ship. The villain in this tale isn’t a wolf but a big bad shark. Youngsters will easily catch onto the familiar storyline and they will also enjoy the bright pictures that fill the pages.

Here’s another comparison story to “The Three Little Pigs”. Three Little Cajun Pigs,by Mike Artell, and delightfully illustrated by Jim Harris, would be a hilarious read-aloud with the Cajun dialect written in the text. The mom has just kicked the pigs out and tells them it’s time to leave their home. But as they begin to build with different materials, they begin to realize their choices may not be the best. And the villain here is Ol’ Claude, the alligator. There’s a helpful glossary and the rhyming text is fun and a riot to read!

The Three Swingin’ Pigs,by Vicky Rubin, and illustrated by Rhode Montijo, are really cool pigs that feel the groove as they play and sing the jazziest songs in town. When Wolfie gets on the scene, he wants to wolf them all down. But fortunately for the pigs, instead of eating them, he ends up singing as well as playing the saxophone on stage. He’s found his true love: performing. So next time you’re in town, look for “The Three Singin’ Pigs and Wolfie”.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears,by Lauren Child, and photographed by Polly Borland and set creations by Emily L. Jenkins, has scenes of real tiny bowls, chairs and beds as Goldilocks, a tiny doll, tries out the different sizes of furniture before falling asleep. The sets are meticulously assembled and the story is enjoyable to read.

Dusty Locks and The Three Bears,by Susan Lowell, and illustrated by Randy Cecil, is set in the West where the bears wear cowboy boots and handkerchiefs. After they cook their beans, they leave for a walk and that’s when Dusty Locks breaks into their nice and clean cabin. Dusty Locks is a dusty mess and leaves the house a mess as well. This is a funny parable, but one where little ones can learn about being nice and tidy.

Mary Had A Little Lamp,by Jack Lechner, and illustrated by Bob Staake, has a twist with the lamp instead of a lamb. She loves it so much that she takes it everywhere. “She took the lamp to school one day / To teach it how to spell – but when she tried to plug it in / The teacher tripped and fell”. This tale has a happy ending when Mary goes to summer camp and leaves her lamp behind.

The Fish Who Cried Wolf,by Julia Donaldson, and brightly illustrated by Axel Scheffler, is similar to “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” except it’s about a fish. A tiny fish liked to tell tall tales. But when he gets scooped up in a fisherman’s net, how will he get loose? This tale will keep you afloat.

Peter and the Wolf, by Sergei Prokofiev, and retoldby Chris Raschka, is the same exciting tale about a boy who captures a hungry and mean wolf with the help of some animals. The original story was orchestrated with music, but in Raschka’s retelling, he uses heavy swipes of paint to invoke emotions and linear sentences to provoke the wolf. This highly inventive retelling is masterly told through both the mediums of word and art. The Russian influence is on display throughout in clothing and even grandfather has the look of a famous Russian author. And you can almost hear the music as you read the story!

Pretty Salma: A Little Red Riding Hood Story From Africa,by Niki Daly, feels like taking a trip through this country. As Pretty Salma goes to market, she knows she’s not to talk to strangers. But she’s tricked into giving away all of her native clothes down to her sandals. Now, the stranger’s on his way wearing her clothes to see granny. Fortunately, it all works out, but along the way, you will see many indignant people sporting large bowls on their heads and small cars crammed with people.