Red Riding Hood Takes Charge

June 1, 2009
Gr 2-4-Humorous and charming, these "what happens next" fractured fairy tales inject the world of fantasy with a silly dose of reality. In "Mr. Wolf", fatherhood ruins the big, bad wolf's appetite for mayhem. Finding himself out of work, he goes to an employment agency and tries several ill-fitting careers before landing the perfect job with three little pigs. In "Red Riding Hood", Granny is lonely. Feeling guilty, her granddaughter tries visiting after school, locates a group for the woman to socialize with, and even signs her up with an online dating service, with little success. In the end, as in the original story, it's the Woodcutter who saves the day. Children will love that they are able to figure out the solutions to these stories long before the characters do. The cartoonlike black-and-white illustrations add interest and enhance the mood. Teachers will appreciate the discussion questions, writing prompts, and information on using FactHound to find Web sites, and the glossaries are perfect for elementary readers. Light on substance but full of fun, these books are great for students ready to jump into chapter books or who are looking for enjoyable, lighthearted reads."Nicole Waskie, Chenango Forks Elementary, Binghamton, NY"

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