Sunday, July 7, 2024

It's Not Little Red Riding Hood (mini-review)


 It's Not Little Red Riding Hood (2020) by Josh Funk

Josh Funk takes the classic fairy tale and gives readers a fun and updated version. Little Red isn't too sure about some of the rules to this story (sending a little girl off alone into the woods carrying a huge basket?), but she's willing to go along with them. Well sortof. Along the way, unexpected characters pop up and take over traditional roles (is everyone sick in Little Red's neighborhood? is something going around?). The Big Bad Wolf has to take a break and instead we get Big Bad...oops, that would be telling. And this version of Little Red Riding Hood is too much fun for me to spoil. Kids will have a good time looking for all the guest appearances by other fairy tale and children's book characters. And they'll learn a lesson or two about going off-script if the story seems a little sketchy. It's also fun to watch the back-and-forth between Little Red and the narrator (who is determined to tell the classic story with no additions or changes). The story comes with nice illustrations by Edwardian Taylor as well. ★★★★

First line: Once upon a time, Little Red Riding Hood lived with her family in a cottage on the outskirts of the woods.

Last line: Exactly. Maybe your next story is starting right now.

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