Little Red Riding Hood [Paperback]

Trina Schart Hyman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1987 | Age Range: 5 and up | Lexile Measure: 800L (What's this?)

Today's young readers will truly be enchanted by this easy-to-read version of the Brothers Grimm classic illustrated with a fresh, vibrant new look set in an American frontier. Full-color illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Trina Schart Hyman used to pretend she was Little Red Riding Hood when she was a little girl, wearing a red cape sewn by her mother. Her love for this character permeates her award-winning retelling of the traditional Grimm story, even as Grandma and Little Red get eaten alive by the wolf and then saved by the kindly woodsman (illustrated carefully with a minimum of violence). Little Red learns her lessons--to keep her promises, to stay on the path, to mind her manners, and to avoid talking to big, bad wolves--lessons parents still try to teach their children many generations after the Brothers Grimm first recorded this story.

For over 20 years, readers young and old have loved Hyman's illustrations of children's books, fairy tales, and folk tales--most notably the Caldecott Honor Book Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel, and The Fortune Tellers by Lloyd Alexander. Her illustrations for Saint George and the Dragon, by Margaret Hodges, won the Caldecott Medal. (Ages 3 to 6) --This text refers to the School & Library Binding edition.

About the Author

Trina Schart Hyman is a contributor for Holiday House Inc titles including: 'Changing Woman and Her Sisters','A Child's Calendar ','The Adventures of Hershel of Ostropol'

Product Details

• Age Range: 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 26 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House (September 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823406539
• ISBN-13: 978-0823406531
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,216 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #33 in Books > Children's Books > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > Multicultural

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What a treasure of a book! January 25, 2000

By Carole Burrage

Format:School & Library Binding|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am so glad I stumbled on to this version of "Little Red Riding Hood" and that my son and I will be able to enjoy it together for years to come. The illustrations are lush and evocative; the geraniums bloom off the pages and the calico-inspired borders make you want to cover up with a cozy quilt. The retelling is superb, as well, casting Little Red as a spunky yet polite heroine. Every child's personal library needs this story, and this is the best version of this timeless tale I've ever seen.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a PC retelling, thank goodness! March 8, 2004

By Daniel L Edelen TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:School & Library Binding

Trina Hyman's lushly illustrated version of Grimm's tale of a young girl and her grandmother beset by a wickedly ravenous wolf is about as good as this tale gets. Fortunately for the reader, this Red Riding Hood avoids the politically correct fate of so many other modern versions of similar works.

Done with an Arts & Crafts flair, the illustrations are detailed and worthy of the Caldecott Honor award this book received. The text is relegated to a small box on every other page, giving plenty of space to enjoy the drawings.

I don't have the original Grimm text, so I cannot comment on how true to their text this work is. However, I can say that the wolf's snacking on Grandma and Red, plus his gruesome demise, is here in all its glory. Don't tell anyone from PETA.

If you are the kind of parent that loves classic tales wondrously retold, and doesn't want to sugarcoat life, then by all means get this one. It is lovely to look at and has a good moral base--just the way they used to make 'em.

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great version of Little Red Riding Hood April 18, 2000

By Reader from Clemson

Format:School & Library Binding

Little Red Riding Hood is a fairy tale that has been told and retold many times. Trina Hyman's version that she both retells and illustrates is based on the Grimm Brother's version. This version of Little Red Riding Hood contains a happy ending and a moral. There are two plots in this story: the visual and the textual. In Hyman's version (the textual story line), Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother are eaten by the wolf, but the huntsman saves them by cutting open the wolf's belly. Little Red Riding Hood learns to be careful of who she speaks to when she is alone in the woods, because strange wolves can not be trusted. Hyman places the text, surrounded by a border, on the left-hand page. The corresponding illustration is on the right-hand page. The visual story line involves main illustrations and borders that surround the text. The borders are designed after Pennsylvania Dutch folk art, common garden plants, and wallpaper, but they also "reflect the underlying meaning of the story". At the beginning and ending of the story, the colors included in the borders, such as yellow, green and pink, are full of life. This signifies that before her adventure, Little Red Riding Hood is full of life and afterwards, she receives a second chance at life when the Huntsman saves her. When Little Red Riding Hood is at her grandmother's house, the borders match something inside, such as an apron or quilt square. When she is in the woods, the borders have a nature theme. Those borders contain flowers, trees, and forest animals. Not only do picture books illustrate the text of the story; they can also create additional story material. For example, Hyman includes a black cat in every illustration.... I find this to be significant because according to superstition, black cats bring bad luck. They have been known to draw lightning and are even witches in disguise sometimes. The black cat in this book follows Little Red Riding Hood wherever she goes. The cat can be seen peering out from behind trees, squatting in bushes, and walking with Little Red Riding Hood. Maybe the black cat is the bad luck that causes Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother to get eaten. Or, maybe the cat represents the narrator of the story. I believe the cat is not bad luck, but more of a guardian angel watching out for Little Red Riding Hood. The cat keeps an eye on Little Red Riding Hood on her way to her grandmother's house, and the cat seems to draw the huntsman's attention to the cabin. I feel that the Grimm Brother's version of Little Red Riding Hood is the best selection for Hyman. In my opinion, the happy ending and moral, make the story much more appealing. Read more ›

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the true story! July 6, 2004

By A Customer

Format:School & Library Binding

It is so difficult to find these tales told with the original plot, and not made so happy and safe that the point gets lost. And there are important lessons from these tales. Does EVERY story have to end up with everyone living happily ever after? What is that teaching? My three year old loves the danger, gets the message and is not unduly frightened. The illustrations are charming and rich and spark her imagination. The wolf looks like a wolf and Little Red Riding Hood looks like a little girl, instead of saturday morning cartoons. Trina Hyman is a magnificant artist. This is the way I remember the story instead of so many of the modern versions when the wolf ends up being changed into a repentant and compliant friend - that is not how life is and this version is honest without indulging in gross violence.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good retelling of the traditional stories - beware of reviewers who should know better March 13, 2006

By TB

Format:School & Library Binding

This is a well illustrated and entertaining version of the old story. My 4 year old son enjoyed it. The adult reviewer who was "shocked" and felt he "should have been warned" needs to get a grip on reality. This is Little Red Riding Hood. The wolf wants to eat Red and Grandma. We all know the story. It is an adult's responsibility to completely read a children's book before handing it over or reading it to children. It isn't up to anyone else to "warn you." Please. Anyway, this is a fine version of one of the most fondly remembered fairy tales, not watered down or sanitized PC junk. I also recommend Paul Galdone's versions of The Three Little Pigs and The Three Billy Goats Gruff.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Little Red Riding Hood March 29, 2000

By Amber Morrison

Format:School & Library Binding

I thought that this was a really good book. It takes the original story to the next level. Where the story that I am use to reading you do not know the name of the little girl, or know how she gets the red hood, this story goes into greater detail of the facts and it lets you personalize more with the main character. I think that this is a good book for young children. The illustrations for the book were wonderful and colorful. This is an all around good book to read.