Redlocks and the Three Bears

Classic fairy tales collide in this self-aware spin on "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." Seeking an escape from the Big Bad Wolf, Red Riding Hood exits her own book and knocks on the door of The Three Bears, who reluctantly give her refuge. Porridge is eaten, chairs are broken, and beds are slept in—when suddenly the Wolf arrives and the characters scurry over to the next book, invading The Three Little Pigs' home. It turns out the Big Bad Wolf isn't so bad after all, and with an act of kindness from Little Bear, the book ends happily. Softly rounded pencil illustrations catch the eye with luminous blends of colors and delicate lines, while attractive typesetting and decorative borders lend a storybook aesthetic to the pages. The uncomplicated prose makes for an appealing read-aloud, and positive themes of empathy and understanding will resonate with audiences of all ages. VERDICT A pleasing addition to large picture book collections, especially where fairy tales are popular.—Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Lib., CA

The red cloak-clad child at the Three Bears' door isn't the usual suspect: it's Little Red, escaped from "the book next door" to ask for help. Narrator Baby Bear persuades his folks to let her stay ("Not sure if that's how the story goes, they said, but... Ok"), and Red proceeds to make herself at home--devouring her young host's porridge and breaking the smallest chair--just like a certain other protagonist. When the wolf from Little Red's tale appears and sends everyone fleeing to a book occupied by the Three Little Pigs, Baby Bear discovers that the villain is ready to reform ("Nobody likes to have wolves in their books," the wolf sobs) and successfully forges a détente between the wolf and Red, sending them back to their own story with a recipe for porridge. This is not one of those meta-mash-up fairy tales that traffics in big nudges and broad visuals: Rueda's (Bunny Overboard) understated, matter-of-fact text is set in filigreed frames to evoke the classic fairy tale volume, while her ovoid characters' shenanigans are rendered in spare, delicately textured colored pencil drawings, making for a first-rate addition to the genre. Ages 3-8. (Nov.)