Little Red Riding Hood

This is the most beautifully illustrated contemporary edition of the classic fairy tale I have come across. It's especially good for boys in that the "huntsman" is now the "father" and the wolf is portrayed powerfully and dramatically. For girls, Riding Hood, Mother and Grandmother are strong feminine figures in their own right, too. My 3 year old Godson enjoys it immensely.

This is one of the most outstanding children's books that we own. I first heard of Andrea Wisnewski's Little Red Riding Hood in the Wall Street Journal, where it recieved rave reviews. I ordered it right away, one for my daughter and one for my neice. The book did not disappoint. The illustrations are stunning and so interesting to study closely. The cultural details in each picture add to the charm of the story. The illustrations become even more engaging when you realize the medium used. Ms. Wisnewski created black & white prints made from papercut designs and then hand painted the prints with watercolors. Amazing! And that only gives testimony to the illustrations. The script is just as lovely. The classic story of Little Red Riding Hood is told in such a charming and entertaining way. It is as much a treat for me, as it is for my children, to read this story together. It is one of the "special" books that is kept on the highest shelve of the bookcase to preserve it for years and generations to come.

Lovely is really the only way to describe Wisnewski's retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. The most attractive feature of this particular version of one of the most retold stories around is the illustrations, which are actually not "illustrations" in the traditional sense. Here the author uses a cut paper technique that simulates traditional woodcuts which is quite effective and really compliments the story, giving it an old world flavor. The text is simple and is framed in each two page illustration, adding to the feel that what the reader is looking at is an old handmade story book with colorfully decorated and detailed woodcut artwork. This was truly a joy to read visually. The story itself follows the traditional bones and grandma IS eaten while Red buys time to try to escape with the "oh Grandma" lines, which I thought was a nice touch. There's nothing here that will scare young readers despite the wolf eating the Grandma and the Woodcutter cutting her out of the wolf (scene tastefully screened by bed curtains and left to the imagination). So what you have is pretty tame, simple text pared with rich artwork that makes Wisnewski's retelling of Little Red Riding Hood ideal for read aloud or for beginning readers. I'd recommend it for anyone who loves a good picture story book or who collects fairy/folktales, it would make a fine addition to any children's library, I give it 4 Stars!