If you have been following along for a while you will know all about my love of fractured fairy tales.  I love a good twist on an old classic, something that keeps the story fresh and updates it to fit a modern world.  Troy Wilson’s newest book is a brilliant addition to the stable of updated fairy tales. Little Red Reading Hood and the Misread Wolf shows us with knowledge we have power and to be open minded about those we encounter.

Many of you will already know the story, little girl sets off for grandma’s house and meets up with a wolf.  Wolf reaches grandma’s house before little girl and impersonates grandma to try and eat the little girl. The twist here is little Red is very well read and she knows exactly what to do when she is inevitably thrust into these encounters with the wolf.  The thing is, the wolf isn’t interested in the smell of the little girl, he’s much more interested in the smell of the new book Red is carrying to grandma’s house as a treat. When the misunderstanding is all cleared up all of the book’s characters settle down to listen to the story Red has written.

This book features a very clever and brave character in Red which we know is so important in children’s literature today.  Strong female protagonists are important to empower young minds. I was also drawn to the fact that all the characters love reading books and being read to.  If we want to create lifelong readers we need to show them how to read for pleasure. Finally, I loved the repetitive text, reiterating how because Red loved to read she knew exactly what to do in each situation showing young readers and listeners that knowledge is power, makes us brave in scary situations and brings us together.

The illustrations by Ilaria Campana are so delightful with a cartoonish quality keeping the story updated but also hinting back to the classic.  The cover looks classic and you are pleasantly surprised when you open it up and begin to read.  

A super fun read wonderful not only for your young readers but also to provide inspiration to your older budding writers to compare classic versions of the story to the new and updated mixed up versions.