Honestly, Red Riding Hood Was Rotten! (Other Side of the Story

The Other Side of the Story

by Trisha Speed Shaskan

Just because this classic story is usually told from the protagonists' point of view doesn't mean the antagonist doesn't have his side of the story, too. Of course you think I did a horrible thing by eating Little Red Riding Hood and her granny. You don't know the other side of the story. Well, let me tell you.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fairy Tales, Retellings, Fantasy, Folklore, Fiction

23 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2011

About the author

As an author of 50 books for children, Trisha Speed Shaskan carries her childhood dreams into her adult life. With the upcoming picture book Trisha wrote THE ITTY-BITTY WITCH illustrated by Xindi Yan, Trisha celebrates Halloween, magic, brooms, witches, and self-empowerment. Trisha is also the author of the picture book PUNK SKUNKS and graphic novel series Q & RAY, which are illustrated by her husband Stephen Shaskan. When Trisha isn't writing stories, she loves to laugh, travel, and spend time with her dog Beatrix and husband Stephen.

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again the wolf is vegetarian (most of the time) and professes a liking for apples. But one sympathizes with his desire to rid the world of a narcissistic little girl obsessed with her own looks. Personally, I think the kid isn't to blame when Grandma is practically identical (except that her favorite colour is green, not red). It's the whole nature-versus-nurture dilemma. Whichever option y0u pick, in Red's case it's obvious, as the wolf observes, that the apple didn't fall far from the tree. [Insert rimshot here.]

This wolf should really consider stand-up comedy...

[Meltha · Rating 1 out of 5]

Possibly I've read too many versions of LRRH at this point because I'm starting to see underlying parallels between various takes on it that are downright disturbing. Moon's version of Perrault's tale was flat out nightmare fuel, of course, and this is nowhere near that, but the "moral" of the story as viewed through the wolf's eyes is also fairly unsettling. The wolf wins in this one (obviously, as it's first person narration after the fact), and he explains that it wasn't his fault that Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother got eaten. No, it's all their fault. He was an innocent party. On one level, that's funny, but it becomes significantly less so if one remembers that the wolf is usually a symbolic representation of either a kidnapper/murderer or rapist/murderer. Little Red's big vice in this is her vanity. She's pretty, and according to the wolf, what's worse is she knows it (oddly, this is also the grandmother's vice). Due to the fact she is attractive, the wolf believes he should be absolved from killing her because who could possibly control themselves around a pretty girl? Red happens to resemble a red apple, while the grandmother does a green apple, and the wolf (who declares he was previously a vegetarian with a penchant for apples) feels their appearance means they had it coming.

Their appearance means they had it coming? What they were wearing? How attractive they were? That Red is rather flirty? I doubt this was the author's intention, but wow, talk about inappropriate.

[Bree Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wolf’s version

I love getting the Wolf’s version of the tale. Loved hearing how he’s actually a vegetarian but it’s a long time until apple harvest time.

[✩₊⋆☾⋆ r a c h e l ⋆˖⁺₊✧⋆ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly the only thing I could think of the whole time while reading this book was this.....



This book tried really hard to be like The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs but it fails miserably at it (The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs is a fabulous book by the way I highly recommend it).

Red Ridding Hood was very annoying and just talked about how lovely she was ON EVERY PAGE. Not only that but no matter how hungry the wolf is, I fail to see how he would really think of Red and her grandma looking like apples just because of the color of their clothes or that Red was shaped round would make him want to eat them.




And the idea that there is such a thing as a vegetarian wolf is a bit ridiculous since their diet really consists of meat. So I am not sure if this wolf is trying to do a Finding Nemo moment and be friends with what he eats but the whole thing just made the book pointless for me.

[Elizabeth Wyatt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Illustrations were cute, but I didn't like this rendition at all. It was a weak imitation of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, but I feel like children will not get the intended humor of the book.

This ARC was provided to me by the publishers via Net Galley.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Big Bad Wolf is trying so hard to be good. He is after all a vegetarian and tries hard to resist meat. He much prefers apples but when red riding hood shows up looking as plump and juicy as a big red apple what is a hungry wolf to do?

I enjoy fairy tale retelling and although this wasn't my favorite it was a fun read. The pictures are adorable.

3.5 Stars
Source: Netgalley

[Blodeuedd Finland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, Red Riding Hood Was Rotten is written by Trisha Speed Shaskan and illustrated by Gerald Guerlais. It is a picture book for children and it is the first one I have ever reviewed. It is sweet (well in a way), most pages have one big picture in it and little text and it is short. It is a picture book after all.

I do love picture books and I have read quite a few lately when temping at a kindergarten. I am sure they would have liked this fun story. I am not sure about ages, not too young since the wolf does eat Red and her granny so the kids have to see the humor in it. But it is also very short so too short for older kids. And I am sure adults would have fun reading it too. I sure did.

This is the story told by the big bad wolf who loves food, and then I mean food like apples. But then one day there is no food in his cupboards anymore and he is hungry. He sees a girl all dress in red, like one big apple. She looks good enough to eat, she and her grandmother that he hears about. Too bad the girl is full of herself. Her grandmother is all dressed in green, like a yummy green apple, and she is also very full of herself. And yes he eats them, but then that does not matter because I am all on Wolf’s side. He is funny and hungry.

Grandmother’s house was fun to see. There were portraits of her everywhere. That is one shallow family. I do think they had it coming for them.

At the end there are also some things to think about. Like how the story changed when it was told from his point of view, and there is a glossary too. And how you can read and learn more, and internet sites to check out. All good things for the kids.

Verdict: A good and fun story for everyone to like and the illustrations are really adorable. Rating, how does one rate a book like this one? Ok the pictures were cute! So that gets a 4 and because of the overall story is stays a 4. Very amusing and adorable.

[christina 🌺 · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was ok - to be honest, I don't know what I was expecting. I liked the cinderella one a lot more.

[EileneC · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Honestly, Red Riding Hood Was Rotten!: The Story of Little Red Riding Hood as Told by the Wolf (The Other Side of the Story)” (2012) by Trisha Speed Shaskan and illustrated by Gerald Guerlais, retells the classic Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale from the wolf’s point of view. In this picture book, Shaskan’s humorous wolf invites readers to contemplate that there may be “two sides to a story,” as the title suggests.

Wolf is a vegetarian and is very hungry. His favorite food is apples. The story begins as Wolf smells cake and butter from Red’s basket. In this version, both Little Red and Granny are plump (apple-shaped) and vain, as Wolf spies Red admiring her looks in a pond. After learning that Red is going to Granny’s house, Wolf comes up with a plan – to race on different paths to her house (Red notes she’s the prettiest and fastest). Wolf reaches Granny’s house first, and because Granny is admiring herself in the mirror, doesn’t realize Wolf is not her granddaughter and is chomped like a green Granny Smith Apple. Upon Red’s arrival, she doesn’t notice the Wolf’s Granny disguise and, in a mirror, admires her own appearance. Wolf describes her having “apple seed color” eyes, “apple slice” ears, and “red delicious” lips. As she admires her skin, Wolf loses control and eats her. Wolf notes she tasted a little rotten, but is happy there is cake and butter for dessert.

The illustrations by Gerald Guerlais enhance the story with detailed drawings of the characters. Red and Granny are apple-shaped, and the wolf’s portrayed excitement over their yummy appearance is humorous. Wolf is black, with piercing blue eyes. As Wolf describes Red’s facial features, the pictures match how he envisions them – for example, apple seed color and shaped eyes.

This humorous children’s book presents an opportunity for readers to reconsider their understanding of Red Riding Hood and the “big, bad” wolf, as Wolf is the good guy in this version. The illustrations help young readers visualize the wolf’s emotions, engaging readers. I recommend this book for primary-aged children for the moral aspect. For these readers, and even older elementary students, it may be paired with the original story as a compare-and-contrast activity or with “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs!” by Jon Scieszka to discuss point of view. The last page of the book also provides ideas on other children’s writing activities.

Shaskan’s entertaining “Honestly, Red Riding Hood Was Rotten!” has a twist from the original tale, showing that the truth can be perceived differently depending on who is telling the story.

[Chloe Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone loves a twist

I really enjoy these twisted fairytales and think they’re great to teach children about opposing views. I would definitely use this in the classroom and perhaps encourage the children to write their own version of other fairytales from the villains perspective. The links and and questions provided at the back are a good starting point.

[Carlos Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining version

Very humorous and a nice twist to the story we all know and love. Kids will enjoy it. Give the wolf an English accent as you read this to them and have fun watching their little minds work in overdrive!

[Philip Carlson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a spin on the classic, Little Red Riding Hood, by listening to the events that took place from the Big Bad Wolf's perspective. The Wolf begins telling the story just prior to meeting Little Red in the forest, where he is complaining of being hungry after he'd "eaten every last vegetable and fruit in the garden". The Wolf claims to be a vegetarian who loves apples, so when he meets Little Red in the forest, he can't help but to see her as a juicy red apple, ripe for the eating. Upon talking with Little Red, the Wolf sees her as snobbish and full of herself, portraying a selfish attitude as she talks all about her looks and beauty. He learns she is going to her Grandmother's house, and realizes he now has the opportunity to eat both of them if things go right. As the wolf enters Granny's house, he sees her dressed in a bright green dress, and visualizes a Granny Smith Apple. With a "CHOMP", Granny is eaten. As Little Red arrives at the house, she continues talking about her beautiful looks, making the Wolf even more hungry. Again, viewing her as a bright red apple, the Wolf eats Little Red and the story ends.
Through the use of color and illustration, the reader is able to view this classic story through the eyes of the Wolf, a health conscious vegetarian with a keen appetite for plump, juicy apples. Little Red is drawn with a close resemblance to a bright red apple, and the illustrations of her give the reader the impression she was a selfish brat, twirling her hair and snobbishly viewing herself as better than others. When the Wolf eats both Granny and Little Red, the reader almost seems to agree with his actions and show very little sympathy for the other two based solely on the way the pictures tell the story. The colors used in the pictures do a wonderful job evoking the senses of taste and touch, allowing the reader to further empathize with the Wolf's actions.
Although the story is quite simple and differs from the original classic, there are many literary concepts that provide excellent teaching opportunities. The classic version of Little Red Riding Hood is told from an invisible narrator's point of view, but Wolf's story is from his point of view. In this way, students can identify how different points of view change the meaning of a story. Also, comparing and contrasting the two versions of the story allows readers to identify differences that may exist between them and formulate their own opinions about which one is more truthful.
I believe this story could also be adapted to incorporate the concept of selfishness or sharing in that Little Red was so preoccupied with herself that she failed to realize what the Wolf was planning for her. Had she been more caring of others, maybe she would have invited the Wolf to Grandma's house to eat dinner with them rather than ending up as dinner herself.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, Red Riding Hood was Rotten! was something I picked due to my affinity for fairy tales. There isn't anything better in the world, in my opinion, than a particularly good retelling of a fairy tale!

My first reaction was completely amusement. The illustrations in this book are absolutely beautiful, and will definitely hold the attention of any young reader! Fast-paced and vivid with color, each page draws your eyes in and holds them there while the story is being told. From the facial expressions of the wolf, to the vain ponderings of Red Riding Hood, this book is laugh out loud adorable!

In this particular retelling, the wolf is a vegetarian. he tries oh so hard not to eat meat. However he is out of food and hungry. What does he see, but a lovely apple! Or is it? Cue Red Riding Hood in one of the most giggle worthy illustrations of her character that I have ever seen. I couldn't honestly blame the wolf for mistaking her for something delicious. I'll let you dive into the story to find out exactly what he was thinking about.

The only reason I didn't fall as in love with this book as I could have, was because my heart belongs to another retelling of Red Riding Hood. I won't share which one, since I don't like to compare books if I can help it, but it is another retelling from the wolf's point of view. I also felt at times that the jokes were a little forced. Again though, we're talking about a children's book here. I know that my first graders would be giggling at every single one, and that makes me happy.

Long story short, this is a lovely retelling of a classic story! If you have a reluctant young reader, this would be a great book to start them out with. I also see if as a great bed time story book. The illustrations alone make it worth sharing with your little ones. Thank you to Trisha Speed Shaskan for such a sweet book!

[Zubia Nizami · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a re-telling of the well-known story of Little Red Riding Hood- with a twist. It is told by the view point of the Big Bad Wolf. The story is in the first person and the Wolf is on a mission to clear his name and set the story straight.

The book starts off with some background information so you, as the reader, get to know why he HAD to eat Little Red and her grandmother, which is unlike him because he is a vegetarian (on most occasions). The Wolf describes how he had not eaten for weeks and one day smelt cake and butter in the forest. Naturally he was enticed and followed the smell all the way to Little Red who looked like his favorite fruit, an apple. The wolf then talks about Little Red’s character as being very full of herself and so she naturally takes on the challenge of beating him to grandma’s house. Once there, before Little Red, he eats grandma because she too reminds him of a juicy green apple. And once Little Red gets there she too suffers that same fate. No woodcutter in this story to save the day.

The book is wonderfully written and is very amusing and greatly enjoyable to read. It gives new twists to the storyline and the reader reads in anticipation of what may happen next even though it is a story that everyone is familiar with.

The appropriate age range for this story can be Key stage 1 or 2. It can be read to the class in Year 1 and 2. Activities can be based on looking at the differences in the original version and the Wolf’s version. It can also be used for guided reading, with focuses on writing in the past tense, descriptive words and repetition and rhyming.

In Key stage 2 it can be used to inspire creative writing, such as looking at other fairy tales and writing a different point of view story of one of the villains as the narrator.

All in all a great read.

[Valerie Lurquin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very cute book about Little Red Hiding Hood told from the wolf's point of view. In the beginning of the story, the wolf is eating a salad for lunch, since he is a vegetarian of course. It made me laugh when he acknowledged why everyone believed he was big and bad since he ate Little Red Riding Hood. On that day, he had run out of his food (fruits and veggies) and he went out to try to look for food. He had went weeks without a meal until he smelled Reds cake and butter. He simply thought Red looked like a delicious apple in her red cape and dress. Red and the Wolf discussed how beautiful she was which only made the wolf more hungry. The Wolf realizes he can have two meals if he beats Red to Granny's house, which of course he does. Granny is dressed in all green and looks like a granny smith apple. The Wolf then eats her up. Red is still talking about how beautiful she is by the time she arrives at Granny's House, and doesn't notice that Granny is now a wolf. The funny part was when the wolf ate her he said "Things look different when you're hungry. She was no Fuji or Crispin apple (in fact, to be honest, she was a bit rotten". I loved the illustrations in this story and the theme of the apples!

The end of the story includes a section of questions which can be presented to students after reading it. This is a book I would use with students age 6-8, although it may be a difficult read for a 6 year old. I just believe they would enjoy listening to it! It would be a neat idea for students of these ages to complete a compare/contrast activity describing the similarities and differences between the story told from the wolf's perspective and red riding hood's perspective.

[Maxine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always loved fairy tales. Little Red Riding Hood is one of my favourites, I think because, at least in the earliest versions (Charles Perrault and before), it seems like an anomaly. It is certainly lacking the happy ending that is usually a prerequisite for these tales. I suppose that is why later storytellers like the Grimms brothers added the wood cutter so that Little Red and her gran can be saved and they can have their 'happily ever after'.

So when I saw this little children's book, I was intrigued. Little Red Riding Hood as told from the wolf's perspective - great idea! In this tale, Little Red is a narcissistic little brat who can see no further than her own good looks and Gran is no better.

The wolf, on the other hand, if given his druthers, at least according to him would be a vegan. But nature and hunger being what they are (not to mention his altruistic belief that he would be doing the world a favour by ridding it of this pair of egomaniacs) he decides they just might make a tasty snack.

Interestingly. the ending of this book is very close to the original albeit from a different perspective but, if the outcome is the same, this time it is a happy one - well, at least if you were rooting for the wolf. Me, I always root for the wolf.

[Komal Parveen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A twist on the traditional story of little red riding hood, this time it’s the wolf’s version of events. It is a good way of showing children there two sides to every story. It can be used alongside the original to allow the students to see the similarities and differences. Interesting book to read and the pictures are very colourful. In the book the wolf introduces himself as a vegetarian and Granny and Little Red are portrayed as boastful, vein and self-obsessed, because of this instead of the original ‘Granny, what big ears you have’ Little Red instead says things like ‘Granny, what perfect ears I have’. The original story is classic tale which most children will know and therefore I could imagine children having fun reading the wolf’s point of view. I would say the book is ideal for years 3 and 4 but could be useful in other year groups too. At the end of the book there is a ‘Think, about it’ section which contains tasks children could do in relation to the book. These tasks include comparing the two versions of the story, forming an opinion on which one is true and looking at how other fairy tales would change if they were written from another character’s point of view.

[Lauren R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much! I read this book to my class as a read aloud. I read Honestly, Red Riding Hood was Rotten! in paperback form in my classroom. I decided to read this book because it seemed like a fun variation of the story - and I was right! My students really enjoyed listening to this story and comparing it to the classic tale - Little Red Riding Hood.

I enjoyed Honestly, Red Riding Hood Was Rotten because it told the story from the wolf's point of view. The author lightens the fact that the wolf eats Little Red Riding Hood and her grandma by noting the fact that he thought they were big juicy apples that he had been missing. The author also does a good job at getting readers to cheer for the villain. Little Red Riding hood is so infatuated with herself that you don't feel as bad that she got eaten.

The illustrations were so fun to look at too! My students loved the different expressions the wolf had on each page. This was a great book to read in the classroom. We compared this story to the classic tale. This book would also be great for discussing characterization. I highly recommend this picture book to children in early elementary school!

[Amy Armstrong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, I probably wasn't the intended audience for Trisha Speed Shaskan's take on Little Red Riding Hood. Instead of the story focusing on the innocent, naive girl who goes off to the forest to visit with her equally self-absorbed grandmother, we see everything through the vegetarian wolf's perspective. He sees granny and Red as delicious apple-like beings bouncing around his field of vision. Not only do they force him to eat them by looking like apples, but they force him to eat nasty, nasty meat.

I adore fairy tales and re-tellings, so I was stoked when I saw this galley, but whenever I pick up a picture book, I ask myself if it would be fun to read to a little kid, and this one didn't do it for me. Children have a clear sense of justice. I think most of them would be really upset that the wolf at grandma and the pretty girl when he didn't even want them.

Still, it's an interesting idea. Some books in the series might work really well and others won't so much.

[Aliah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, Red Riding Hood Was Rotten by Trisha Speed Shaskan instantly caught my eye! Gerald Guerlais’s lush, stunning illustration, beautiful frame the story focusing the reader’s eye on a rather convincing wolf. Finally, after years of listening to poor little Red’s sob story, Wolf gets his say. Told from his perceptive, readers learn his version of the events that transpired deep in the woods that fateful day. Poor, unassuming Wolf explains that it was all an honest mistake bought on by some rotten behavior and pure unadulterated hungry. It was a do or die situation and he couldn’t resist. Wolf appeals to the reader’s sense of right and wrong in an effort to convince the world of what really happened on that infamous day at Grandma’s house. The Wolf leaves readers with a few questions to ponder in his last ditch effort to convince us that he did what anyone of us would have done in his situation.

[Karen Arendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fractured fairy tale serves up great entertainment. Wolf is hungry and it is not apple season yet (apparetnly a favorite food for him since he is a vegetarian). He sniffs Red Riding hood in the area and the plot continues along similar to the traditional story, except that the wolf portrays Red Riding Hood as quite conceited. The very humorous language is all told from the Wolf's point of view. Little Red looks like a very large apple although very pretty. Her grandmother looks like a large green apple. The wolf looks endearing and innocent, as he would want to since he narrates the story! At the back of the book are some questions to prompt discussion and writing as well as a glossary. Other titles in the series are also listed for additional reading pleasure.

[Hannah Grosse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book doesn't exactly clear the big bad wolf from his crimes of eating the little girl and her grandmother, this perspective of the wolf gives a little fun hint that Little Red and Granny perhaps are not as innocent and perfect as they appear in the fairytale. Both the girl and her granny in this story are completely full of themselves, which is super fun to read and get into. Also, there was the apple theme, in which the wolf loved apples and "innocently" justified eating a couple of humans who happened to be dressed in the colors of apples. Interesting!

[Melissa Goembel]

This story is twisted so that it is the wolf’s point of view and explains why he had to eat red and her grandma.
This book is the wolf’s take on the events. The wolf is in the forest where he comes upon red. She is very vain and conceited. She tells him she is going to granny’s house. He asks were that is, and she tells him. He gets to granny’s and granny is the spitting image of red but wearing green. He ends up eating granny and red but after much much goading by both. Plus, he was starving.

[Tiuri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a huge fan of this…although a few of the wolf’s expressions made me laugh. I definitely didn’t really love the entire ‘Red Riding Hood and her grandma were vain so it’s totally ok if I eat them’. This was a very strange retelling. The wolf constantly comparing them to apples felt really weird. I’m usually a fan of creatively redone fairy tales…but this wasn’t one. Felt forced and cheesy…

Also, maybe I’m being picky, but the font type felt…off? Like a homemade book instead of something officially published.

[Dawn · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I love the idea--telling the story from another character's one of view, it was not well done. Instead of developing the wolf as a full character, Red and her Granny are made even flatter characters and blamed for their own deaths. If you're going to tell it from the Wolf's perspective, then find some empathy for him. Don't just make all the characters unlikable.

Also, Red was drawn way too seductive for a children's book.

The book gave me the creeps.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would add it to our fairy tale tub, but I didn't love it. It is fun for another perspective, but the story didn't sing to me like The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka did. That twist on a familiar tale is brilliant and I have willingly read it and reread it to children for years.

[Reanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another in this collection of twisted fairy tales. Twisted in a good way that is! This one is also funny and cute. This is also free at the moment with Prime if you want to check it out. I can't wait to read the other books in this collection.

Recommended for 2-8 year olds again and definitely a good, quick choice for bedtime reading with your little one(s).

[Set · Rating 4 out of 5]

This take on the story is hilarious. Red Riding Hood is annoying and vain, a red delicious that is rotten to the core. The wolf was on a good track being a vegetarian until she showed up looking like a puffed out balloon apple. And granny smith is just as vain, the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. This is the wolf's defense and his side of the story of that fateful day.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

So supposedly the wolf is trying to convince the reader he is a vegetarian, who only ate little red riding hood and her grandma because they looked like apples. But in the first page he's eating a drumstick. I found this to have a few moments of humor, but not enough to redeem this pale replica.

[Shannon Newman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not impressed. Very much of the current societal trend of “its not my fault.” I get that it’s supposed to be funny but it’s sending the wrong message on several levels. I won’t be reading it to my kids.