Little Red Riding Hood

by Lisa Campbell Ernst, Lisa Campbell Ernst (Illustrator)

Overview

When Little Red Riding Hood sets off to deliver muffins to her grandmother, you can bet that a big bad wolf isn't far behind!
Set on the midwestern prairie, this is a Little Red Riding Hood that will captivate youngsters with its feisty heroines and bold humor. Especially to be relished is the way the story line plays against the classic tale's plot, with laugh-provoking lines that show true wit. As the dastardly wolf chuckles, appreciating his own schemes, the text soars, suspense builds, and vibrant pictures bring out all of the fun.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780689801457
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Publication date:	09/30/1995
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	1,094,749
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD720L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Lisa Campbell Ernst has written and illustrated many popular children's books, including The Turn-Around, Upside-Down Alphabet Book; Hannah Mae O'Hannigan's Wild West Show; Goldilocks Returns, her own version of "Little Red Riding Hood"; and Stella Louella's Runaway Book. She lives in Kansas City, Missouri, with her husband, Lee, and their two daughters, Elizabeth and Allison.

Lisa Campbell Ernst has written and illustrated many popular children's books, including The Turn-Around, Upside-Down Alphabet Book; Hannah Mae O'Hannigan's Wild West Show; Goldilocks Returns, her own version of "Little Red Riding Hood"; and Stella Louella's Runaway Book. She lives in Kansas City, Missouri, with her husband, Lee, and their two daughters, Elizabeth and Allison.

Editorial Reviews

School Library Journal An ideal read-aloud choice.

From the Publisher

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.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

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

School Library Journal

Yet another fractured fairy tale, but one that feels fresh in Ernst's capable hands. This Red Riding Hood is a little kid on the prairie, who wears a hooded sweatshirt as she pedals along to Grandma's. When the wolf appears, it's not Grandma he wants but her secret recipe for muffins. But Grandma, out in the field on her tractor, is way smarter than the wolf. She spots him, shakes him, and eventually puts him to work in her muffin shop. It turns out that she's the "original" Red Riding Hood and used to dealing with big baddies. Ernst cleverly carries out her concept down to the muffin recipe on the endpapers. 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.

Ilene Cooper