Little Ruth Reddingford and the Wolf

by Hank Wesselman

Children are sure to enjoy this lively rendition of an age-old classic. Little Ruth Reddingford loves visiting her grandmother. So when Grandma can't pick her up for their weekly picnic, Red takes matters into her own hands. While taking a shortcut through the woods to Grandma's condo, she is confronted by bullies. The ensuing adventure takes a surprising twist as Red discovers the power of her Native American heritage and makes an unusual new friend.

Genres: Childrens, Native American

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2004

Reviews

[Melissa -Crazy Lucky Book Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

So spirit animals could eat tacos? I guess? This has Hopi story traditions, so someone with more knowledge of that could explain what spirit animals can do. This very modern take on Little Red Riding Hood is interesting. It isn't perfect because I wish the author had taken more time explaining Hopi mythology and traditions since it was brought up. However, I do like the modern perspective here. Grandma lives in a condo, the hunter is now a sheriff, and the more concerning lesson to be learned here is not stranger danger but the harm that bullies make. The artwork is amazing by the way. The details that Requel has for each picture is truly stunning.

[S.N. Arly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a modern and somewhat different take on the traditional European story of Little Red Riding Hood, wherein the wolf is nilot vilified and beliefs of Native Americans have a role.

The artwork is fine, but not spectacular. The story is the engaging component, and it is frequently requested by the 6-year-old boy and nearly 4-year-old girl (who is the original recipient) in our household. It's really nice to see strong female rolemodels for children of this age. Ruth stands up well for herself, and grandma is no slouch, either, a nice change from the weaker traditional characters who need to be rescued. There are good real-world applications to the story's events, making for excellent teaching points regarding bullies and self-defense.

[Terry]

This is more than just a modernized version of the tale we grew up with. It has a nice twist (hint: the wolf isn't the bad guy), some spiritualism, and an even better moral than the original!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting take on the traditional Red Ridinghood story in which the wolf is no longer evil but takes on the role of a spirit guardian.