LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

A gorgeously illustrated version of the classic tale, this time with a brown-skinned protagonist. The plot’s traditional, though Red takes “chicken soup and raisin muffins” to Grandmama, and the wolf tempts Red off the path not with standard wildflowers but by suggesting she “collect kindling for a fire.” The setting is winter: Snow covers the ground and trees, while tiny red berries highlight evergreens. Pinkney’s backgrounds (forests, snow drifts, stone walls) are dappled with light; pencil and ink lines, and watercolor and gouache paint, subtly imply the presence of elusive faces or shapes. They merit extra time for perusal but never distract from the stunning crimson of Red’s cloak or the wolf’s fascinatingly devious and deviant postures. When the woodcutter chops open the wolf, the viewpoint is from outside the cottage, revealing only a small shadow through the doorway. Meanwhile, a bright red bird stands in a snowy bush as a sign that Red will be fine. A beautiful new rendering. (Picture book/fairy tale. 3-6)