3+Little+Dassies

created by Jessica Valasek

Brett, J. (2010). 3 little dassies. New York, NY: Putnam Juvenile.
Cover image retrieved July 20, 2011 at: http://www.janbrett.com/bookstores/three_little_dassies_book.htm

__Summary:__
In this adaption of a traditional African folktale, three little dassies or rock hyraxes, move to the desert to build homes of their own. Greeted by an Agama Man, the dassies are warned about a family of eagles living up on the mountain. Frightened, but not deterred, the dassies went right to work on homes of their own. Much like the story of the three little pigs, the dassies run into problems with home design and are forced to try to outsmart the feisty eagle. Can they pull it off and live in the desert as planned?

__Online Links:__
Learn more about author Jan Brett: Meet Jan Brett

Hear what Jan Brett herself has to say about her real life experience with dassies: Jan Brett talks about being inspired by the dassies

Find out what inspired Jan Brett to write a book about three little dassies: Jan Brett's Letter about The 3 Little Dassies

For more activities focused on Jan Brett books: Jan Brett activities page

__Discussion Questions:__

 * 1) Compare and contrast this story to the three little pigs. Who was the smartest character, explain your answer.
 * 2) What lesson can we learn from the dassies in this story. Explain.
 * 3) Explain how the dassies could have escaped without the Agama Man's help.

__Classroom Activity:__

 * 1) You've heard the story of the Three Little Pigs and you've heard the story of the 3 Little Dassies, which is like the three little pigs, except that it happens in the desert of Africa. Now it will be up to you to create your adaption of the three little pigs, much like Jan Brett did. You may choose any animal or any place, but the setting and characters must match. Predator and prey must also match.