RED RIDING HOOD

A thoroughly modern, thoroughly charming retelling of the old favorite. Marshall's text is simple and colloquial, without falling into the jarring coyness that often besets contemporary renditions. Witty and direct, it adheres to the traditional plot: both Granny and child are swallowed, then rescued intact by the hunter who kills the wolf. The ink and watercolor paintings are humorous, vigorous, and beautifully designed. Bold enough to share with a group, they include entrancing details: an unusual number of cats, the rustic bridge that bedecks the title page, the wolf hidden in the dramatically dark forest, Granny's monumental stack of bedtime reading. (Her complaint upon release will endear this edition to librarians forever.) A perfect union of felicitously chosen words (this could find additional use as an easy reader), a real story, tried and true, and illustrations in a popular style that also meets a high aesthetic standard. Bravo!