Very Little Red Riding Hood by Heapy and Heap (Children's, Picture book, 10E/10E)

January 2014, David Fickling Books, 32 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Themes: fairytale with a difference

 

Summary from Random House Children's Publishers

Very Little Red Riding Hood is little. Very little. She's brave and bossy, fearless and determined, loving and funny. And like all toddlers she likes everything just so – woe betide anyone and anything that gets in her way!

Join Very Little Red Riding Hood on a very important expedition to her Grandmama's for a sleepover.

She's got some cakes, she's got red ted, she's got her blanket and she's got her tea set. And NOTHING is going to get in the way of her well-laid plans. Not even a Wolf!

Will they all live happily ever after?

Nayuleska's thoughts

Here is yet another (see suggested read) adorable version of a famous fairy tale. I enjoyed how unafraid Very Little Red Riding Hood was of the wolf. From both the child style grammar and what she says shows very clearly she has a mind of her own, wants things done a certain way and will not be put off by a mere wolf!

Alongside the inventive story are the pictures which add dynamism to each scene. I loved how her little teddy has a similar blanket to her, in a darker colour. It's sweet how whatever Red Riding Hood does her teddy does too. Her mannerisms accentuate her speech, having me giggling away as she ticks the wolf off, who she calls foxie. I could clearly imagine her bossing the wolf around. It was a bit heart wrenching when she thought of her mother, but she was able to be distracted. I liked how her mother was called Mummy rather than Mum-that's how it should be! The fold out map is a fun feature, and from the places mentioned I sincerely hope there will be more tales about Very Little Red Riding Hood's neighbours as they sound equally colourful characters.

Suggested read

For a fun twist on fairy tales check out The Fairytale Hairdresser: Or How Rapunzel Got Her Prince by Abie Longstaff and Lauren Beard, first in a series of wonderful books! (Children's, Picture book, 10E/10E)