This version of the classic fairy tale features a Red Riding Hood who is a “clever and kind girl, but [who has] a dreadful singing voice”. Red Riding Hood does not trust the wolf who offers to help carry her basket full of food, and tells him to be on his way.
As a result, the wandering wolf finds himself extra hungry, and in search of something to eat when he comes upon grandma’s house. Unfortunately for the wolf, he is not particularly subtle about what he wants, and grandma escapes. That means Red Riding Hood has to deal with the wolf alone, which she does with aplomb, leaving the wolf by himself to fall asleep in grandma’s bed. True to the fairy tale form, the wolf gets his comeuppance, but not in the traditional way.
Little Red Riding Hood: A Masked Fairytale includes a dust jacket which has two wonderful masks (Little Red Riding Hood and the wolf) that can be cut out and worn. The instructions encourage readers to don the wolf mask when they see the word ‘wolf’, and the Red Riding Hood mask when they see the name ‘Little Red Riding Hood’.
A humourous take on the original, Little Red Riding Hood: A Masked Fairytale would make a great whole family reading activity.
Title: Little Red Riding Hood: A Masked Fairytale
Author: Samone Bos
Illustrator: Ellie Jenkins
Publisher: Chirpy Bird, $24.99 RRP
Publication Date: March 2016
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760127114
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture book