Red Riding Hood (retold by James Marshall) [Paperback]

James Marshall (Adapter), Charles Perrault (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

A little girl meets a hungry wolf in the forest on her way to visit her grandmother.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Granny isn't feeling up to snuff today," so Red Riding Hood is on her way to the other side of the woods. The well-mannered wolf has a charming straw hat; he takes the trusting little girl by the hand. "Surprise!" he cries upon entering granny's chambers. And with the gusto of an uninvited guest, he gobbles her up, with dreams of the "dessert" ahead. After-dinner mints and a siesta follow, but the brave hunter arrives at an inconvenient moment and spoils the wolf's fun. This is a fresh retelling that invigorates the spirit of the classic tale without wreaking havoc with its fundamental structure. Marshall's Red Riding Hood is irresistibly vulnerable. An utterly funny version in which the lesson obviously has been learned: a final shot shows Red declining the kind offer of another friendly carnivore. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3 This irresistible retelling of the familiar tale will rank high in popular appeal while still maintaining the integrity of the Grimm Brothers' version, with both Grandma and Red Riding Hood eaten and later rescued by a hunter. Through simple words and a restrained use of line in the art, Marshall masterfully imbues his characters with humorous personality traits. The heroine is a considerate, bouncy sort of kid; Grandma, an avid reader, is feisty; and the wolf, a charming villain, is just a bit guilty about his behaviorafter his second meal he admits, ``I'm so wicked. . .so wicked.'' With just a flick of the whiskers even Grandma's heavy-set feline looks both outraged and scared. The cartoon styled ink and watercolor illustrations play harmoniously along with the spare story, and as the drama heightens viewers are treated to fresh perspectives and enticing peeks into Grandma's bedroom. Cheery colors predominate, with a judicious use of black effectively conveying tense moments. Throughout, comic touches are understated (a box of empty imported after-dinner mints lay discretely beside the snoring wolf). A marvelous offering that begs to be added to everyone's storytelling repertoire. Caroline Ward, Nassau Library System, Uniondale, N.Y.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Picture Puffins (March 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140546936
• ISBN-13: 978-0140546934
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.4 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,294 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #7 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( M ) > Marshall, James
  • #8 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Literature > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > Anthologies
  • #45 in Books > Children's Books > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > Anthologies

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Old school red riding hood!, March 5, 2002

By 

A. Y. Smittle (Winchester, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Red Riding Hood (retold by James Marshall) (Paperback)

Hold onto your hats! This version is the one I grew up with!
Y'know, where RRH and her granny get EATEN! Gasp, swoon! AND its written with the good ol' James Marshall humor. I loved it as an adult. I read it to my 4 yr old preschool class, not knowing it had the "surprise" ending...tee hee...they were a bit shocked to know that RRH and granny get eaten instead of being locked up in the closet or chased around the room. What will their parents think? The room was dead silent when the wolf gobbled them up, humorously, of course. Nah, I recommend this book for those who want to keep up the tradition in the fairy tale world. Thanks, James Marshall, for braving political correctness' delicacy and doing up the true tale just right!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Red Riding Hood, October 5, 2003

By 

...Loggie... "Loggie-log-log-log" (I live on the earth, in the western hemisphere, in North America, in the country of the United States of America, in Illinois in the town of Champaign) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red Riding Hood (retold by James Marshall) (Paperback)

This book is a very good re-telling of the classic fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. (Mom tells Red to take a basket of goodies to Grandma, as she isn't feeling well. Also instructs girl not to talk to strangers. Red takes basket of goodies to grandma, meets wolf on the way. Wolf has charming manners, and Red explains where she is going to him. Wolf beats Red to Grandma's house, gobbles up Grandma, and puts on nightcap and glasses. When Red comes to door wolf eats her too. Luckily for them, a hunter comes along and saves them by killing the wolf and cutting him open.)

This version sticks right to the classic, with only a slight, funny twist at the end. The illustrations are bright, bold, colorful and very cute. The story is told in a straightforward, unadorned manner. Granny has a wonderful personality, and the whole book is wonderful. My favorite part is where Granny gets mad at the wolf for coming into her house and interrupting her reading.

Loggie log log log

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delight, October 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Red Riding Hood (Hardcover)

I can't recommend James Marshall's fairy tale rehashes more enthusiastically. They are SO funny. By all means buy them all for your children. See also "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" and "The Three Little Pigs."