Very Little Red Riding Hood by Teresa Heapy– NO

Heapy, Teresa and illustrated by Heap, Sue Very Little Red Riding Hood 32 pgs. HMH Books for Young Readers, 2014. $16.99 Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G Violence: G. PICTURE BOOK.

Little red riding hood is very little in this book, maybe 4 or 5 years old. She is off to her Grandmama’s to bring her cakes and have a sleepover. When she spots a wolf in the woods, she runs up and hugs it and invites it to chase her. Grandmama isn’t too happy to see a wolf, but she is won over. When Little red gets home sick, wolf might be just the thing she needs.

I really like re-tellings and use them frequently for lessons in the library. I feel like a re-telling should offer a different, ironic, funny, beautifully illustrated, or interesting perspective on the original; this story just doesn't fill any of my requirements. I think students would be confused by inviting a stranger in and spending the day having tea and playing hide and seek.

PRE-K, EL– NOT RECOMMENDED Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.