What was your favorite fairy tale growing up? One of my favorites was Little Red Riding Hood, but Lari Don’s version was written after my childhood. So, as an adult, I’m introducing it to you now. This version–fit for children grades kindergarten through third–is illustrated by Célia Chauffrey. Her pictures are done in pencil and special acrylic paint, and the details she adds are superb.
The book keeps the basic Little Red Riding Hood plot, while the illustrations give it a modern twist. The protagonist’s famous red cloak is replaced with a long, hooded red coat. Plus, she wears red slip-on sneakers. At the same time, her neighborhood has a rural feel, with a woodsman leading a packed donkey and workers tending a field.
The wolf’s fuzzy texture makes him look cuddly, and that may partly explain why Little Red Riding Hood would trust him. He also acts polite and thoughtful—acting concerned about Granny’s happiness and warning the girl to be careful in the forest. But his pointy teeth and narrowed eyes hint at his shadiness. He soon gobbles up both the girl and Granny, though the images aren’t gruesome. It’s just his huge mouth swallowing them whole like a basking shark.
Akin to the traditional story, the hunter comes to Granny and Little Red Riding Hood’s rescue. Of course, this is a deus ex machina, but the scenario is described in a way that makes it forgivable. The man is out hunting, and he hears snoring. Identifying the snores as a wolf, he tracks him down like a hunter might do. Seeing the wolf’s huge belly, he cuts him open, curious about what the animal just ate. Don’t worry, no blood and guts are shown. The girl and Granny slip out of the wolf as if slipping out of a folded tent. Little Red Riding Hood puts heavy rocks in the wolf’s stomach and sews him up with crimson thread. There seems to be a teensy bit of blood in the wolf’s fur, but nothing over-the-top.
The furry predator goes to the river for a drink, and he falls in. Because he’s so heavy with the rocks inside him, he can’t get out, and he drowns. Yes, fairy tales are dark and violent at times, but children will understand that this fallen world isn’t all roses and sunlight. However, as Christians, we know evil, like the wolf, gets defeated eventually. Proverbs 10:28 says that “the expectation of the wicked will perish,” and Jesus says in John 16:33, “But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Oh yes, and from then on, Granny locks her door when she’s about to sleep, and Little Red Riding Hood doesn’t talk to strangers anymore.
Lari Don: This is the old and wonderful story of what happens when a little girl meets a wolf in the woods. Retold in my words, with my thoughts about why she stops to pick flowers, why she doesn’t notice a wolf in the bed, and what really happened to the wolf at the end.
This book is lifted above the usual flock of fairy tales by the incredible illustrations from amazing French artist Celia Chauffrey. Really, you can see every soft strokeable hair on the wolf (even from a safe distance!)
I’m really proud of this book – it’s a big responsibility telling such a well-known story, and I think it’s turned out fine (because how wrong can you go with cakes, a wolf, and a classy French artist…?)
