Little Red Riding Hood Spoof Is Fun

Little Red Gliding Hood

Written by Tara Lazar and illustrated by Troy Cummings

Random House, Oct. 2015

Ages 2-5

Little Red Riding Hood has taken up ice skating in this spoof on the traditional fairy tale. She has worn out her skates and is determined to win a pairs skating competition and the prize of new skates. But who will be her skating partner? The Dish has paired up with the Spoon. Hansel has Gretel. The Seven Dwarfs are busy at hockey. Little Red has a strange encounter with the Big Bad Wolf and gets a crazy idea that just might work.

This new spin on the traditional fairy tale is loaded with funny references to other fairy tales and nursery rhymes. Little Red knocks on the Three Little Pigs’ door saying, “Little pigs, little pigs, let me in!” The Big Bad Wolf taps on her shoulder and says, “Excuse me. I think that’s my line.” When the Big Bad Wolf takes the ice at the competition, he frightens Little Miss Muffet away. Little Miss Muffet bumps Little Jack Horner into the corner. Humpty Dumpty has a great fall and Jack and Jill come tumbling after. 

The colorful illustrations are bright and active. Children will enjoy looking for all of their favorite fairy tale and nursery rhyme characters.

The story’s surprise ending shows small children that people aren’t always what they seem. The Big Not-So-Bad Wolf is Little Red’s skating partner, and the two win the competition.

Usually, the book works, but occasionally references to fairy tales sound a bit rough and forced. When all the skaters are frightened of the Big Bad Wolf, the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe “had so many children on the ice, she didn’t know what to do.”

Recommended.  

About the Author and Illustrator:

Tara Lazar was once a champion figure skater. She writes quirky, funny picture books featuring magical places that are a joy to visit. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two young daughters. Her blog and website is taralazar.com.

Troy Cummings  flails his arms about wildly and leaves behind a trail of crooked lines until he crashes to the ground when he tries to skate. The other books he has illustrated include “The Eensy Weensy Spider Freaks Out! (Big-Time!),” “Giddy-Up, Daddy!” and “The Notebook of Doom.” He lives in Greencastle, Ind., with his family and cat. See more of his work at troycummings.net.  

    

New Monster Book Will Amuse Youngsters

I Want to Eat Your Books

Written by Karin Lefranc and illustrated by Tyler Parker.

Sky Pony Press, Sept. 2015

Ages 3-6

The new kid at school turns out to be a zombie, but he’s hungry for books instead of his classmates. He chomps through a science book, a textbook, and “Sharks at Sea,” as the narrator hurries to hide his favorite “Frankenstein.”

When the teacher announces library time, the kids have to come up with a plan fast to stop the hungry zombie from destroying all the books. The narrator offers the zombie a book about the brain. Somehow the subject interests the zombie, even though he eats books not brains. And suddenly, he is converted to reading books instead of eating them. “I WANT TO READ YOUR BOOKS!” he shouts. Then another monster, a mummy, bursts in and the zombie tames her and reads her a book.

Parker’s full-page illustrations are vibrant and colorful, and amp up the book’s energy. The book’s rhyming iambic couplets and the monster’s repeated cries of “I WANT TO EAT YOUR BOOKS!” add to the fun and excitement.

“Oh no!” cries Eric. “Take a look. / He’s chomping on your science book!” / “And now he’s got a paperback / he’s munching as a midday snack.

“He looks at us with bulgy eyes / and chews a torn-off page and cries: / I WANT TO EAT YOUR BOOKS!

On the negative side, the rhymes are sometimes a little clunky and the ending about the mummy seems a bit tacked on and rushed.

Nevertheless, this energetic, funny book will appeal to youngsters. Parents and teachers will appreciate the message about reading. And it’s coming out just in time for Halloween.

The publisher is also providing a classroom guide with language arts activities that address Common Core Standards.

Recommended.

   

About the Author and Illustrator:

Karen Lefranc grew up all over the world, living in Sweden, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, before moving to the U.S. to attend Bard College in New York. She lives in Connecticut with her three daughters and son, who love devouring books of all kinds. Karin is a certified children’s yoga instructor. This is her debut picture book.

Tyler Parker received his BFA in illustration from the Maryland Institute College of Art and also has an MA in sequential design and illustration from the University of Brighton. He is the illustrator of more than seven children’s books including “Monsters Meet on Mondays” and “The Ice Cream Shuffle” and lives in Seattle.    

    

Look for These New Picture Books

Peter Pauper Press, White Plains, NY, is a new publisher to watch for standout picture books. The publisher of gift books, humor books, compact references, travel guides, stationery, holiday cards, journals and activity books, began publishing a small number of picture books two years ago.  This year’s list includes two not to miss: “No Yeti Yet” by Mary Ann Fraser and “Mina’s White Canvas” by Hyeon-Ju Lee.

No Yeti Yet

by Mary Ann Fraser

Ages 4-8

Two young brothers venture out on a snowy day in search of a “yeti,” a big, shaggy snow monster in “No Yeti Yet.” The little brother is full of questions for his older brother, but they can’t find the yeti until the end. The blue, snowy pictures that cover every page are wonderful. Readers will be amused to find the yeti before the characters do. He hides on every page. The big brother is at first afraid when the monster shows up in the end, but the yeti turns out to be friendly.

My one complaint is that the story does not take place in the Himalayan region of Nepal and Tibet, the setting for the legendary yeti or Abominable Snowman. Instead of looking Nepalese or Tibetan, the children in the book appear to be Caucasian. Nevertheless, I recommend the book.

About the author: Mary Ann Fraser graduated from UCLA and then spent a year studying at England’s Exeter College of Art and Design. Since then, she has written and illustrated 60 books for children, winning accolades including School Library Journal’s Best Book of the Year and American Booksellers Association Pick of the List. Visit her website at www.maryannfraser.com.

Mina’s White Canvas

By Hyeon-Ju Lee

Ages 4-8

On a gray, gloomy day, Mina draws a beautiful snowfall on her windowpane with a magic crayon. Then she takes a walk in the forest and uses her crayon to solve problems for many animal friends she meets. The story is similar to the 1955 classic “Harold and the Purple Crayon” by Crockett Johnson, but this one stars a Korean girl and focuses on making friends. The pictures are lovely, and despite the simplicity of style, the characters’ faces are expressive, adding to the fun of the story. Recommended.

   

About the author: Hyeon-Ju Lee is a talented young author and illustrator from Korea. This is her debut children’s picture book, which was originally published in Korea. In 2012, she won a Special Mention for the Opera Prima section of the Bologna Ragazzi Award, honoring new authors and illustrators of the best designed books worldwide.