Red Riding Hood and the Sweet Little Wolf by Rachel Mortimer

Lovers of fractured fairy tales are bound to eat up this one. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf are angry that Little Wolf isn’t big and bad like they are. They send her out to gather ingredients for dinner and she stumbles upon Red Riding Hood in the forest. Little Wolf doesn’t know what to do. Perhaps the unlikely duo can find a solution to Little Wolf’s problem.

This is a fabulous book! It’s a neat twist having the wolf parents being the bad ones, while Little Wolf has no desire to eat little girls. Instead, she likes fairy tales and playing dress up. It’s also funny and unique how Red Riding Hood is reading some familiar fairy tales as she makes her way to grandma’s house.  You simply can’t help but love this story. It’s so clever.

I knew Liz Pichon provided the artwork for this story without even looking. In addition to being the author of her own fractured fairy tale, her distinctive style adds beauty and humor to Red Riding Hood and the Sweet Little Wolf.

Children will love this one. Highly recommended.

Rating: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Tiger Tales (March 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1589251172
ISBN-13: 978-1589251175

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.

The Three Billy Goats Fluff by Rachael Mortimer

A delightful new twist on a classic tale is what you’ll find in Three Billy Goats Fluff by Rachael Mortimer.

Mr. Troll is angry. How is he supposed to get any sleep with the three Billy Goats Fluff trip-trapping over his bridge? Finally he’s had enough and he warns them that if they make any noise traveling over his bridge they will become his next meal. Mother Goat listens to her children’s tale of woe and puts together a plan to keep everyone happy.

I love this book! The Three Billy Goats Gruff was never my favorite story as a child. It kind of scared me. In this updated humorous version, Mr. Troll is feeling out of sorts because the newspaper advertisement for his new apartment hadn’t included how noisy it was. He’s trying to sleep, but those three Billy Goats Fluff keep trip-trapping over his bridge and waking him up.  He acts out in frustration and the young goats don’t know what to do. But Mother Goat sympathizes with Mr. Troll’s problems and wants to help.

The Three Billy Goats Fluff is funny and adorable. Young readers will learn consideration for others and the importance of working together, while they are entertained by a charmingly illustrated story. Liz Pichon provides the artwork for this one and it is outstanding. Even the goats’ house is fluffy and the troll is fierce, but not frightening.

If you only buy one book for your children this holiday season, it should be this one.

Rating:  🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

• Publisher:Tiger Tales
• ISBN-10:1589251016
• ISBN-13: 978-1589251014
• SRP:  $15.95

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for this review.

 

The Three Horrid Little Pigs by Liz Pichon

 This is my warning that I am feeling a bit frisky today and my review might reflect that.  🙂

In this unique twist on the story of The Three Little Pigs, author and illustrator Liz Pichon creates a silly tale that readers ages 3 – 7 will certainly enjoy.

When the three little pigs are so horrid that they are driving their mother crazy, she sends them packing to build their own homes. The first little pig steals straw from the cows to build his house and the second little pig takes the twigs the birds were using to build their house. The third little pig is such a lazy guy that he doesn’t even build a house. He just jams his plump body into the chicken coop.  When the little pigs find themselves without sturdy homes, the big friendly wolf comes along to help.

From the front cover to the back, your kids are going to love this one!

Now, Liz Pichon must be a very nice person–it says so right on the front cover (next to her name). But even if she was more like the three horrid little pigs than the big friendly wolf, no one could deny that she has a gift for words and art.

This is a paperback reprint of the hardcover version of The Three Horrid Little Pigs, and I seriously doubt it will sit on anyone’s bookshelf for long. Just like The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, it twists the original story and comes up with a delightful tale that young readers will flip over.

The wolf certainly gets his day in the sun with this one, because for once, he isn’t portrayed as the bad guy. That poor wolf is just trying to help those horrid little pigs build sturdy homes, and they won’t have anything to do with him.  They huff and puff him away.

I’m always amazed by the talent of individuals who can write and illustrate. Pichon does an excellent job of both, with bold and silly illustrations that perfectly compliment her story. The ending also holds the subtle message that everyone can get along. Whether or not the author intended it to be taken that way, I don’t know; but I certainly read it as such.

For a funny, unique twist on an old tale, pick up a copy of The Three Horrid Little Pigs by Liz Pichon.

Rating:  🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Publisher: Tiger Tales

ISBN-10: 1589254236

ISBN-13: 978-1589254237

SRP:  $7.95 

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