Little Red

Little Red: A Fizzingly Good Yarn by Lynn Roberts, ill. by David Roberts

            Picture Book—Fairytale

            Grades PreK-4

            Rating: 5 Stars

            Summary: Little Red goes off into the dark woods to visit his grandma and bring her a basket of goodies as he does every week. The big bad wolf has plans to eat Little Red and his grandma, but Little Red uses his sharp wit to outsmart the wolf in an unusual twist to this classic tale.

            Robert’s version of Little Red Ridinghood is so charming and irresistible. She puts a totally new spin on the tale, starting with the time and place. Little Red brings us back to post-revolutionary America. Peterson and Eeds discuss the ways in which the author lets the reader know about place, and Roberts definitely adds unique details to the story that enrich our sense of the setting (p. 46). Little Red’s parents own a tavern which reflects an earlier time, and the family’s interactions with the customers as they talk about their travels also helps the reader discern that this story is not set in modern times. The illustrations also contribute to the reader’s sense of time and place, as everything from the clothing to the tableware and décor of both the tavern and the grandma’s house are from the post-revolution era and give off an aura of patriotism. Overall, I just love the unique details of this fairytale, and the ending certainly does not let down. The wolf ends up making a deal with Little Red that he will not eat them if he can have an unlimited supply of ginger ale.

            Little Red would be a great version of a classic to use in a study to compare and contrast different versions of the same fairytale. Robert’s style makes this story truly unique. While it has the same frame as the original Little Red Ridinghood, there is so much to take in that is new and interesting by comparison. This story would also be valuable to share in order to inspire a creative writing project. Either individually or as a class, students can change and add unique details to a classic fairytale and create a completely new and imaginative take on the story, just as Roberts did.