Traditional Literature- Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood 

Trina Schart Hyman
Holiday: 1983
ISBN: 0-8234-0653-9

We all remember the story of Little Red Riding Hood. There are so many versions to this story, but some versions are better than others. This version, retold and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, is a caldecott winner and written in 1983. In this story, Little Red Riding Hood is asked by her mother to deliver gifts to her grandmother who is feeling ill. She tells her to please remember to walk to her grandmothers house as quickly as she can and do not stray from the path. While Red Riding Hood walks to her grandmother's house, she is stopped by a wolf. She tells him where her grandmothers house is and he beats her there. What will happen to her grandmother? Will Red Riding Hood ever make it to grandmother's house? Please read this version of the story to find out! 

I would give this version of the story a 6 out of 10. Even though it won a Caldecott, the story is not written with the best quality. It is definitely considered authentic literature because there is a lot of text on a page and it would be hard for a beginning reader to understand. While the pictures are very detailed and are colorful, the story told is almost too graphic. In this version, it talks about the grandmother and Red Riding Hood being gulped up by the wolf. The worst part of the story is the end when the hunter cuts open the wolf and takes his remains home. I feel as though there must be a better version to this story and I would not suggest reading this to your child. My suggestion is to show your child the pictures because they are very intriguing and you can tell your own version to this story.