Little Red Riding Hood (Easy-to-Read, Puffin)
Kindergarten-Grade 1-This adaptation for beginning readers tells the story in a brisk, straightforward style. The simple, colorful illustrations, most of which are on double-page spreads, initially portray a red-hooded-sweatshirt-clad Little Red Riding Hood setting off with her goodies and her mother's admonishment not to talk to strangers. Naturally, she meets the wolf, who distracts her so that he can get to Grandma's first. He swallows Grandma whole, with only her stocking feet shown disappearing down his throat. After the traditional exchange of pleasantries, Little Red suffers the same unfortunate fate. A woodcutter is shown approaching the sleeping wolf, ax upraised. The next illustration depicts the beast's hindquarters stretched out on the floor, his two victims standing unharmed beside him. The child vows never to talk to strangers again. The vocabulary is appropriate for beginning readers. The lively illustrations and familiarity of the story should provide a successful reading experience.Lisa Smith, Lindenhurst Memorial Library, NYCopyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.