Little Red Riding Hood: a Newfangled Prairie Tale

As always in her books, one of the big attractions is the art, oversize (great for story hours) and gloriously goofy. This would work well with primary-graders, who will relish the send-up.

Broad horizons, pale skies, and golden flowers combine with perky line drawings; the final pleasing touch is the muffin recipe.

These are desperate times for big bad wolves-heroines just don't act dainty and frightened anymore. In this witty version of the classic fairy tale, set among America's amber waves of grain, Grandma drives a tractor and doesn't think much of pesky predators. One day, Little Red Riding Hood-nicknamed for her scarlet sweatshirt-decides to take some wheat berry muffins (made from a secret recipe) to Grandma's prairie home. As she pedals her bike through the fields, she meets the wolf, who learns of her plan. This gives the wolf an idea: "[I'll] surprise that feeble old granny and steal her recipe.... Soon I'll hold the secret to those delectable muffins." Grandma, of course, is having none of it. After striking terror into the wolf's heart she shares a batch of muffins with him, then puts him to work in her kitchen. Ernst's (Ginger Jumps) smooth pastel, ink and pencil illustrations, rendered in dry-grass gold, aqua blue and soft green, suggest the ever-so-slightly rolling terrain of the Midwest; the full-bleed spreads, with rectangular windows for the text, are artfully composed. Best of all, the author includes the secret recipe for wheat berry muffins-they're delicious. Ages 5-10. (Sept.)

Copyright 1995 Publisher’s Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

K-Gr 3—The subtitle tells readers that this is not the traditional "Little Red Riding Hood." Here, our heroine wears a hooded red jacket while bike riding. Knowing Grandma "gets crabby in the heat," she decides to take her muffins and lemonade. Along the way, she meets the wolf, who, of course, decides to race Little Red to Grandma's house. Instead of the expected frail, bedridden old woman, he finds a feisty, muffin-baking, tractor-driving grandmother who puts that big bad wolf in his place. Once reformed, he becomes Grandma's baking assistant. (The muffin recipe is included.) Little Red learns her lesson about talking to strangers. Readers will delight in the comical tale and unpredictable plot twists. Ernst's now familiar large colorful line-and-wash paintings featuring cartoon characters are a perfect complement to the playful story. The spirited illustrations and rollicking narrative make this an ideal read-aloud choice.—Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WI

Copyright 1995 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.