Little Red Riding Hood by Jerry Pinkney

Little Red Riding Hood Reviews

• 
  Meltha

  Pinkney appears to set this somewhere in North America, and Red Riding Hood seems to be African American, which is a nice way to make this an inclusive story in a classroom. There certainly aren't any details in the original version that it's even in conflict with. I did notice one odd thing, though, and perhaps it's only my version of the book or a printer's error, but both Red Riding Hood and her Grandmother have blue eyes after they are freed from wolf's belly (this is in keeping with the Brothers Grimm version); prior to that, they were definitely brown. I'm not sure if that signifies anything or not.
• 
  Ch_hayley Medsker

  The is the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood, who is off to bring her sick old grandmother something to make her feel well again. As expected, she meets the wolf in the forest, and the rest is predictable. The woodcutter hears the loud snoring of the stuffed beast, and saves the little girl and her grandmother from the belly of the wolf (minus any gruesome detail).
  My second graders enjoy predicting, the "Grandmother, what big teeth you have," line in the story. Jerry Pinkney's watercolor illustrations gave this classic version of Little Red Riding Hood a antiquated feel. Although, I noticed, while my students did not, the ethnicity that Little Red seemed to elude. Her orientations was undefineable, but present to an analyzing eye. I enjoyed this aspect of the book; it brought a tinge of diversity to an otherwise very European tale.
• 
  Amy

  Award winning illustrator Jerry Pinkney brings a classic Grimm Brothers fairytale to life in this version of Little Red Riding Hood. The story could be told through the elaborate illustrations alone. From the details in the clothes to the expressions on the characters faces, you get a sense of depth and movement in the action of the story. Little Red Riding Hood sets out to her Grandmothers, with her cherished cloak. Her fate follows in the expected way. She encounters a wolf who distracts her, races to granny's and (gulp) eats them both up! Saved by the woodcutter- details here are described in words only- granny and Red come out unharmed.
  
  Perfect for preschool to grade 3 read aloud.
• 
  M.M. Strawberry Library & Reviews

  The illustrations make this classic tale a real treat to read and enjoy.
• 
  Jenny

  With minor differences from the original, Pinkney expertly retells the well known Grimm brothers' account of Little Red Riding Hood. I really enjoy that it is set in winter and that Little Red is of African American descent.
• 
  Cameron Crays

  Little Red Riding Hood- This is a children’s picture book of the Brothers Grimm classic fairy tale adapted by Jerry Pinkey. Jerry Pinkey is an award winning illustrator. The characters in the story include a little girl, a scary wolf and a sweet grandmother. The plot of this story is a sweet little girl meets a hungry wolf in the forest while on her way to visit her grandmother. I would say the conflict is a big part in this story because the most exciting part being the wolf comes and children would probably think that was coming. I would definitely recommend this book to young readers!
  
• 
  Taylor Daniels

  This beautiful modern picture book illustrated by Jerry Pinkney uses many mixed medias. He uses pencil, watercolor, gouache, and ink to illustrate the story. The plot of the story starts by a little girl on her way to her grandma's house when she encounters a wolf. This popular folktale is a great book for all ages!
• 
  Kennedy Fiscus

  This modern picture book was beautifully created by illustrator Jerry Pickney. His illustrations are made from a mix of watercolors, pencil, gouache, and ink. From endpaper to endpaper, the wonderful illustrations do a great job at enhancing this popular folktale. With an exciting plot featuring the characterization of a young girl and a wolf, readers are sure to love this story.
• 
  Jody Ruff

  Love the Illustrations in this book with the African American Red Riding Hood. Jerry Pinkney beautifully made her with great details on her face. This story is very well written with words that describe what she is hearing in the woods while she goes for a walk.
• 
  Nicole

  Little Red Rising Hood is a classic tale that many children, teens, and adults are familiar with. It is a story about a little granddaughter taking food to her sick grandmother, but on the way, she meets an evil wolf who plans to eat both Little Red and the grandmother. This book teaches children an important lesson about talking with strangers.
  
  Reading this book as a child, I don't remember it being as violent as it was when I read it as an adult. The page that talked about getting Little Red and the grandmother out of the wolf's stomach used much more vivid language than I remember, and the picture attached to the text brought more attention to the violence being portrayed by the words.
  
  Regardless of this, I still think young children will enjoy reading this book for multiple reasons. First, it is a story that their parents and grandparents are familiar with, which could excite the child to have something in common. Also, the pictures add lots of detail to the words to make the story more engaging. And lastly, children need to read the original story in order to enjoy the many different versions of this text.
• 
  Jessica Meyers

  In Pinkney’s version of the fairy tale, Little Red Riding Hood is a beautiful African American girl on a journey to bring her beloved grandmother a basket of goodies. As she skips through the forest, she meets the sly, greedy wolf, who eventually gobbles both Little Red and her grandmother up. A woodcutter ultimately comes to the rescue, cutting open the wolf’s belly so Grandmother and Little Red can escape, perfectly unharmed.
  
  This is an excellent book to use in a classroom setting, anywhere from kindergarten to 3rd grade. Not only were the watercolor illustrations absolutely beautiful, but I love Pickney’s use of descriptive language, such as the “sweet little girl” and the “lovely red riding hood.” He writes beautifully, using diction like “cherished” and “affectionately.” He uses other literary elements like onomatopoeia, describing the “crunch, crunch” of a child’s footsteps in the snow and the “chop, chop” of the woodcutters working nearby. Finally, the book teaches some meaningful lessons such as the importance of following directions and the danger of talking to strangers!
  
• 
  ♥♣Mary♦♠ If She So Pleases

  Little Red Riding Hood is a cautionary European fairy tale whose story can be traced back to the 10th century. It was told and noted down in France in the 10th century, in Italy in at least the 14th century, Germany by the Brothers Grimm in the 19th century, etc.
  
  The story in this book is close to the Brother's Grimm version. Little Red Riding Hood is full of archetypal types; the wolf (a scoundrel), the old huntsman (a trustworthy older man), a little girl (innocent young lady), ect. It also reinforces staying on the right path and not falling for temptation (like picking flowers off the path).
  
  I love the wintery feel of this book! The setting is very relaxing, like being in rural Europe or Tennessee during winter. Alas, it is not my favorite little riding hood book but I still enjoy it.
• 
  Caroline Pilman-DeKruif

  In his retelling of this well-known folktale, Jerry Pinkney uses a variety of media, including pencil, watercolor, gouache, and ink on paper, to share with readers the story of Little Red Riding Hood as she travels to visit her ailing grandmother. Double-spread format on large pages allow readers to view the warm, detailed illustrations clearly throughout the suspenseful story. Readers will clearly notice Little Red Riding Hood’s vivid coat on pages where she appears.
  
  This book has 32 pages, and most spreads have a considerable amount of text, which may make this book ideal for grades kindergarten through 3rd rather than much younger readers. It would be a useful text in a unit of study on folktales or various versions of traditional tales.
  
• 
  Brenda Kahn

  Somehow missed this book by one of my faves. Love the fact that LRRH set in the winter and features a protagonist of color. Game-changer.
• 
  Katharine

  Pinkney didn’t significantly change the traditional story here, and that isn’t a fault to the retelling, instead, Pinkney brings readers an ideal version, retaining the roots of the story we have all heard before. I especially enjoyed the detail of the “chicken soup and raisin muffins.” Who wouldn’t want to be gifted some homemade soup and muffins when ill?
  It is the illustrations that give this retelling it’s punch however- they are spectacular- expressive, detailed, a visual feast. His carefully worked watercolor paintings bring the story to vibrant life in a way that the text alone could not.
  
  I especially liked the illustration of Little Hood’s kitchen as her mother packs the basket and Little Hood ties on her herd cape- the folds of fabric in their clothing looks so soft and real, and the scene is comforting, with its spread of fresh foods and the traditional iron stove in the background.
  Another memorable spread is the exact opposite- when the woodcutter discovers the wolf in the grandmother’s cottage, one can see a silhouette of him raising his ax over the bed in the doorway, and one can almost hear the snap of the ax landing- in the foreground of the illustration numerous birds and squirrels are leaping and flapping away from the sudden noise.
  I like how Pinkney designed the wolf- quite lifelike, but often with lolling tongue or a yawn, it’s especially great when he’s pulling on the grandmother’s nightcap and licking his lips.
  
  
  However no fault to this version, but rather the original tale... swallowing people whole? Either we need a dinosaur-sized wolf, (his mouth simply isn’t big enough) or a less jolly ending.
• 
  Mary

  Jerry Pinkney had a distinguished career of retelling folktales, fairy tales, and fables. In this one, he gives us a Black Little Red Riding Hood in North American woods. These choices underscore the timeless, universal qualities of fairy tales: if these stories are indeed for everyone, then anyone should be able to see themselves in their pages.
  
  The woods and their inhabitants are rendered in impeccable detail: we see blue jays, cardinals, rabbits, and deer along Little Red Riding Hood’s route. The quilt on Grandmama’s bed is carefully painted to show its lovingly stitched patches.
  
  Yes, the wolf eats both the child and her grandmother, but this information is relayed in the text. Children aren’t exposed to gruesome images. And of course, the woodcutter saves Grandmama and Little Red Riding Hood; the wolf is the only casualty.
  
  Over the years many fairy tales have been sanitized to eliminate such frightening content. I understand why parents want to protect their kids. My six-year-old niece is very sensitive (like her auntie here), so I’m careful about what I share with her and how. Yet reading fairy tales reminds me of an important concept we discussed about them in my library school classes. Children need the certainty of knowing that the villain won’t come back. Being vague about a wolf or evil queen’s fate can give rise to anxiety that the baddies never go away. Sometimes we need to be gentle but honest with our kids.
• 
  Alesha M

  Genre: Fairy Tale
  Bibliography: Pinkney, J. (2017). Little Red Riding Hood.
  
  Response: Giving a new take on the famous Little Red Riding Hood, Caldecott Winner Jerry Pinkney retells the story of a girl on the way to her grandmother's house. Little Red Riding Hood must try her hardest not to get swayed by the witty wolf and finish her journey to her grandmother. After the wolf swallows both of them, a lumberjack comes in to save both of them. The book stays true to the original and is magnified through the charming illustrations and watercolors. One of the major changes in the book is changing Little Red into an African American girl. This book is perfect to read in an open setting, sitting on the carpet and reading aloud to students, allowing them to make their inferences on the story as they follow along. The inclusion of Black people into folklore allows for folklore to be more accessible to younger PoC children who would appreciate seeing themselves in the characters while being able to simultaneously pick up on the lessons (maybe even more so now!) that go along with them. The art style is one of my favorites and makes me want to read other books by the same author.
• 
  Jess

  This version of Little Red Riding Hood is told and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. In this story, a girl is told to take some muffins to her grandmother. She meets a wolf in the woods who distracts her and eventually sneaks to her grandmother's house and eats her whole. Luckily, a woodcutter hears loud snoring and discovers that the wolf has eaten the poor old lady. The wolf is killed and the grandmother is saved. This story follows the traditional Little Red Riding Hood very closely. In this version Little Red Riding Hood is African American, while her grandmother is white, promoting acceptance and inclusion. This is a quick read and I would recommend for young elementary students grades 1-3. However, keep in mind the story is a bit dark and some students may be scared of the wolf and his deceptive ways.
• 
  Rachel Doran

  A little girl sets off into the woods to bring her grandmother a basket of goodies. Along the way she runs into a wicked wolf, who encourages her to collect fire wood for her grandmother before getting to her cottage. The wolf beats her to the cottage and eats the grandmother whole. He then pretends to be the grandmother and lure the girl in close enough to gobble her up as well. There was a woodcutter not to far away who hears the wolfs loud snores, and goes inside the cottage to see what it was. He notices the large belly of the wolf and decides to kill him and cut out the granddaughter and grandmother. They are all happy and gathered by the fire, and little red riding hood makes her way back home. This story is a fairy tale and is told many different ways depending on the author.