Little Red Riding Hood

This bilingual tale of Little Red Riding Hood was written by The Brothers Grimm, and illustrated by Pau Estrada. It is intended for readers Kindergarten through 2nd and published in 1993.

Authors The Brothers Grimm are well known story tellers and nothing is different in this classic retold story of Little Red Riding Hood.

In this version little red is going to se her ill grandmother deep within the forest. She is to bring her some honey and pie, but the sly ole wolf has other plans for little red. After running into her in the forest he sneeks off and beats her to grandmothers. Quickly gulping down grandmother, he changes into her nightgown and jumps into bed. Waiting for the unsuspecting little red to show up.

Once she does though he wastes no time in gulping her up too. Only to find himself full and sleepy he lays down and takes a nap snoring away. It's this snoring that catches the ear of hunter in the woods. Thankfully for grandma and little red, he comes to the rescue cutting them out of his belly and free at last form the evil wolf. Before he awakens red stuffs two rocks in his belly and sews him up, and shortly after the wolf dies.

Illustrator Pau Estrada uses colorful images to turn this grim story into a more bright and happy ending. The use of simple pictures throughout make this classic tale come to life once again even in the darkness of poor grandmother and little red.

I love how the story is told just as the classic tale, but has a few changes that make it softer and more unique. I enjoyed being able to see it both written in English and Spanish, and with this and a few other classics think it could make for some easy understandings. As it's language and use of pictures is quit simple and pristine.

Thought Provoking Questions:

• Do you think that Red should have listened to her mother when she told her not to dally through the forest, and make it right to grandmothers house?
• Why do you think this story has a different ending than the other Little Red Riding Hood stories you've heard before?
• If you were Red do you think you would have stopped along the way and talked to a wolf?

Motivational Activity:

This story and all of the other LRRH stories teach a great lesson within. One I think would be a great time to discuss with the children, and what they think could happen if little red hadn't talked to the wolf. Children can rewrite the story and put in their own endings and parts, or can tell the story from another characters point of view. Have them think about what the wolf, or red's mother would think and how would they retell this story? 

Reference: 

 Sn̈z, B. A., & Garcia, G. (1993). A Gift from Papa Diego Un regalo de Papa Diego. El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos Press.