Grover's Little Red Riding Hood

by Norman Stiles, Joe Mathieu (Illustrator)

Great Little Sesame Street Book

Genres: Picture Books, Fairy Tales

24 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1977

About the author

Norman Stiles is a writer best known for his work on the show Sesame Street, eventually becoming the show's head writer for over 15 years.

Reviews

[C. (Don't blank click my reviews, comment please! · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am among Canadian children who watched “Sesame Street” and wrangled over the letter “Z”. I got used to hearing “zee”, a rare American concession and many say “zed”. The program débuted in 1969 and when their federal government stopped funding them in 1981, the company made revenue from books. My brothers & I own several, which came to me. I am enjoying a refresher with these hilarious stories. I am keeping favourites and sent many others to my brother with children. I have thus seen the names Norman Stiles and Joe Mathieu repeatedly; two “Sesame Street” staples. Norman was their head writer and Joe one of their head artists. Their familiarity and talent fused a fantastic collaboration that worked very well as storybooks.

Many fairytales were authored by the Brothers Grimm; whose original drafts were politically unequal, too scary, or too sexually-toned for youths. If the dreaded suspense of the wolf, or the horror of the woodcutter were not to your taste; you will love this version! The scariness and sting are completely out of “Grover’s Little Red Riding Hood”! In the style I love by “Sesame Street”, where they know they are narrating to people and aim dialogue at readers, as witnesses participating in their scenes: this is my favourite version of them all! The result conveys sheer hilarity through sheer originality! The journey in all of the pages is the gem. Here is one of my favourite scenes.

Grover reads the famous standard that Little Red Riding Hood and the wolf act out. Instead of the woodcutter anticipated to save the girl; an encyclopedia salesman arrives. I love his trench coat, spread to show the whole alphabet stored in it and chortle, because the protagonists buy two sets! A good laugh over reordered events, made my day!

[Quirkyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favourites as a kid. I came across it at work the other day.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't remember reading this particular Sesame Street book as a child but as an adult I think it's pretty funny. Grover is attempting to tell the story of Little Red Riding Hood but, in the silliness of Sesame Street, it doesn't turn out quite like you expect! Joe Mathieu's illustrations are classic.