Big Red and the Little Bitty Wolf

by Jeanie Franz Ransom, Jennifer Zivoin (Illustrator)

A modern twist on the classic tale, Big Red and the Little Bitty Wolf demonstrates that sometimes an unexpected solution to being bullied can have surprising success. Big Red loves nothing more than tormenting Little Bitty Wolf. Little Bitty tries everything to get Big Red to stop bothering him, but nothing works until the school counselor gives him a good idea. This book can be used to spark a discussion with kids about bullying and show them that it is important to seek help. Includes a "Note to Parents and Caregivers."

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Retellings, Fractured Fairy Tales

32 pages

First published February 1, 2016

About the author

Jeanie Franz Ransom is a children's picture-book author and former elementary school counselor with a penchant for puns and a fondness for fractured fairytales. Her books include the award-winning "What Really Happened to Humpty?" and "The Crown Affair," and her newest title, "Cowboy Car."

Jeanie also writes self-help books for kids and the adults in their lives, including "Don't Squeal Unless It's' a Big Deal: A Tale of Tattletales," "Big Red and the Little Bitty Wolf: A Story About Bullying," and "There's a Cat in Our Class: A Tale About Getting Along."

Jeanie divides her time between St. Louis, MO, and Northport, MI, and is a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and conferences. To et updates on Jeanie's books and special events, follow her on Facebook.com/JeanieRansomAuthor, or visit www.jeanieransom.com..

Reviews

[Kate Puleo Unger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an interesting twist on the classic fairy tale. Little Bitty Wolf has to walk through the woods to get to his elementary school. He carries his lunch in a nice basket, and he used to love going to school. After Big Red moves into the neighborhood and starts walking that path, he no longer likes it. Big Red is a bully. She jumps out at him from behind trees, pulls his tail, and eventually steals his lunch. Little Bitty Wolf asks his parents for advice, but telling Big Red to stop and puffing himself up to look bigger don't help. Finally, his teacher takes him to the school counselor. Mr. Know-It-Owl tells him to do something unexpected. Little Bitty Wolf smiles at Big Red and doesn't react to her bullying the next time, and she gives him his lunch back. He wonders how often people smile at her, and he decides to be nice to her from now on.

There is a parent resource section at the end of the book with information on signs of bullying and being a bully. It also talks about ways to deal with it and how to help your kids even if they're just bystanders.

I was a little uneasy about the resolution to bullying in this book. And I was a little surprised the end note didn't address the solution a little more. I think it can be true that bullies are hurting and in need of friends or just looking for attention, even in negative ways. The more I thought about it, I remembered by own experience with my older brother who liked to torment my sister and me. I remember telling her to ignore him and not get upset by his behavior. She never listened. She always yelled or fought back, and he always enjoyed messing with her more than he did me.

This book strives to start the conversation between parents (or teachers) and children about bullying, and I think it serves that purpose well. I haven't read it with my son yet, but I will. I think it's a good resource, but it's not the best resource out there for bullying.

http://www.momsradius.com/2016/06/kid...

[Relyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book reads exactly like what it is: a pedantic book commissioned by a group of professionals to teach their message. In this case the message is anti-bullying. Don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of bullies, and I love books with lessons and even messages. But the message in this book was so heavy-handed without quality writing to allow the story to carry the message. UGH.

The only thing I really did like about this book was the illustrations. Super cute. Other than that, the book is just trying way too hard. I also question the lesson on how to deal with bullying. The Owl tells Little Bitty Wolf to throw Big Red off by doing something unexpected. Sure, that might work some of the time, but I'm not sure it's great overall guidance for dealing with bullying.

Magination Press is an imprint of the American Psychological Association. No doubt. The book reads like a bunch of very sincere doctors trying to help kids, but not really knowing what kids like to read. I'll pass.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The classic Little Red Riding Hood tale is reworked into a story about effectively dealing with bullies. Big Red torments the Little Bitty Wolf everyday on the way to school. It becomes consistent enough that Little Bitty Wolf doesn't like going to school anymore. Both of his parents offer him solutions, which he tries, but nothing works until the school counselor suggests Little Bitty Wolf try responding to Big Red's attack in an unpredictable way. Little Bitty Wolf smiles at Big Red the next time she tries to tease him and it completely throws her off her game.

Back matter includes information for parents and caregivers about bullying, bullies, and bystanders.

Digital artwork. Recommended for sharing with PreK-2.

[Juliana Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twist on the classic Little Red Riding Hood. In this story Red is big and she's mean. Every day she teases Little Bitty Wolf. Little Bitty Wolf tries telling her stop like his mama suggested. And he tries puffing himself up to look bigger like his papa suggested. But nothing worked. Then the school councilor, Mr. Know-It-Owl suggests that he try something Big Red would never expect. Little Bitty Wolf tries smiling. This unnerves Big Red and she returns the basket she took from him that morning. Most of all I like Mr Know-It-Owl's first response, "It sounds like quite a problem. What have you tried to fix it?" This validates the problem first and then suggests that there are things they might do before an adult intercedes. Little Bitty Wolf finds his own solution.

[Patricia Tilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jennifer Zivoin has penned a charming twist on the classic story of Little Red Riding Hood. The author turns this modern day folklore topsy-turvy. Little Bitty Wolf is the target of taunting and bullying by a larger-than-life mean girl, Big Red.  Children will identify with the relentless teasing in this very original fairy tale. Little Bitty Wolf is an adorable  character with heart and determination. Kids will cheer for this little wolf as he attempts to reason and outsmart Big Red in order to get her to stop.  Jennifer Zivoin’s illustrations are richly textured, beautiful, lively and powerful!  The expressions on the faces of Big Red and Little Bitty are priceless.

[Kimberly Wright Oelkers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would you like to read a book about bullying, written by a professional counselor, using a favorite fairy tale? Read this book!

[China Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big Red and the Little Bitty Wolf is a modern version of the classic Little Red Riding Hood fairytale. However, the character roles have been reversed, and the story applies a new concept. Big Red is a bully who always follows the Little Bitty Wolf through the woods on his way to Pine Cone Elementary. She makes his journey a nightmare by tripping him, pulling his tail and even stealing his lunch basket. The Little Wolf does not know how to handle his situation with Big Red, and asks his parents what he should do. They both tell him to tell her to stop or make himself look bigger. However, their advice does not succeed. The wolf talks to his counselor at school. The counselor gives him some positive advice that is sure to stop Big Red from bullying him.

This book incorporates concepts that are relevant in many elementary schools today. The main theme in this book is bullying, which is a social justice issue in school systems. Many younger children experience bullying walking to and from school, or even at school. This book provides the perfect example of a younger "child" being bullied and how he was able to get help and gain control of his situation. The last pages in the book offer some tips and advice for parents to recognize the signs of bulling and how to help children with it. I recommend this book to any young readers experience bullying. I see this book being read at home and in schools. This book is a good read that teaches young readers about social skills and school life.

[Heather McC · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting spin on an old children's tale of Red Riding Hood and the wolf, this time with a role reversal where 'Big Red' bullies' 'Little Bitty' wolf on the way to school. Predictably, the wolf goes to his parents for advice on what to do when Red trips him, yells, and ultimately takes his lunch. His mother suggests telling 'Red' that he doesn't like that, and his father suggests 'puffing up' to look bigger. When these ideas do not work, 'Little Bitty' talks to the counselor (an owl), who suggests that the wolf do something 'unexpected' to get the girl to back off. This is where the book lost me - rather than intervene, or have a heart to heart with 'Red', the book promotes one answer of doing something out of the ordinary (in this case smiling) to make the bully change her mind. Since this is a children's book, the strategy works, but there is no mention of other ways to cope or react to bullying, and the bully in the book is never talked to about her behavior.

There is additional back matter in the book that covers warning signs of being a victim of bullying, or seeing if someone may be the bully themselves. If the book had worked towards other solutions, it would have been a 4 star book. A great concept, and illustrations, are lost in a sub-par ending.

[Megan (ReadingRover) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book fell somewhere in the middle for me. I like that the adults advise Itty Bitty to deal with Red on his own but in the least confrontational ways possible. I think some people misinterpreted the part about them telling him to puff himself up into something it’s really not since he is a wolf. People are forgetting that the book is actually about an animal being bullied so from what I gathered the adults were telling him to do that based on animal behavior and what they do to ward off threats. Regardless it’s not necessarily a bad thing to stand up straight and exude confidence.
On the other hand, I’m not so sure that a smile is always actually going to be the best defense when dealing with a bully. There are definite times it may just seem patronizing or antagonistic.
Overall, I like the anti bullying message in the book though it’s clearly a very straightforward one. I think it will at the very least start a conversation with kids about bullying which is a plus. The illustrations are also cute.
3 stars

[Amy Sacia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Big Red and the Little Bitty Wolf, by Jeanie Franz Ransom, is a fractured fairy tale in which Little Bitty Wolf is being bullied by Big Red. Ransom is a guidance counselor by training and this book is published by the American Psychological Association.

Unfortunately, the storytelling is not strong and seems to be simply While the storytelling is not as strong as it could be, children will be sure to connect with Little Bitty's plight as he debates how to best handle Big Red's bullying. He turns to a trusted adult, Mr. Know-It Owl, who suggests that he "try something unexpected!" Little Bitty smiles at Big Red, which throws her off.

For elementary school students, this would be a good book to study character development and making predictions. There are probably a few great social emotional conversations that could be inspired by reading this book, as well. I'm not sure that I will be adding it to my library anytime soon, though.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 2 out of 5]

Turns the story of Red Riding Hood around, so that Big Red is bullying Little Bitty Wolf on his way to school.

Adults in the book are bystanders. They don't witness the bullying, but they don't intercede at all once they know about it, either.

I'm a little disconcerted by the counselor's advice.

I also wonder at which point the adults would intercede. We have stolen property. We have mild physical violence.

[Zoraida Rivera Morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations are lovely and make a great match with the text. This fractured tale kept me guessing till the end. I even stopped reading trying to guess the ending, but no, I didn't guess. (Got close!)

This book is a great resource against bullying and an excellent way to talk about this topic in schools or at home. Be ready to listen and know that your audience may identify with either of the characters. Have other alternatives to offer.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very cute illustrations; I appreciate that the bully is a girl (not a mean girl, but an actual bully) and is not hulking, ugly, stupid-looking. The counselor's advice seems worth trying, but I doubt it would work for many children. Story too preachy.

Btw, owls most certainly do not turn their heads all the way around, and they are not particularly wise, either.

[Alexis Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because it added a new twist from the typical Red riding hood story that I grew up with. In addition, it also helps children understand what bullying is and the effects of bullying. However, it also shows children how they can deal with a bully in a healthy way.

[Lauren Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big Red and the Little Bitty Wolf is a story based on a twist to the old time fairy tale. In this story Big Red is a bully toward Little Bitty Wolf. This story explains what both characters may do in regard to being the bully and being bullied. Big Red and the Little Bitty Wolf has an ending that makes you wonder “hm, could the solution be that easy?!” Big Red and the Little Bitty Wolf is a Folklore that was written by Jeanie Ranson. I think that this story would best fit grades Kindergarten to 2nd grade. It may work in 3rd grade classroom, however, I think it would be dependent on the classroom demographics/dynamics to work in grades 4th and above. Big Red and the Little Bitty Wolf could be used in multiple ways to reach different content standards. I could see this book being used in comparing and contrasting stories and their story elements through fairy tales. Having students compare this story to the original would create rich conversation regarding the story elements and how they may be similar or different. I also think this story could be the bases of a clear explanation of bullying. Everything that Little Bitty Wolf goes through in the story can be understood by children and a text-to-self connect would be perfect! I think that this story could clearly show how students should approach a bullying situation to fix the problem as well as showing students how to clearly identify a bullying situation. This would be essential for having students identify and reach out to other students that they may see being bullied. This was a WOW book for me because fractured fairy tales have become so addicting to me! I think that they are the greatest way to extend learning in fairy tales. Fractured fairy tales, including Big Red and the Little Bitty Wolf, provide the perfect context to teach comparing and contrasting story elements as well as understand why they are similar or different. I think that this story was even more of a WOW book for me, because it has so many events that happen to Little Bitty Wolf that students can (and should) connect to. Connecting bullying to standards related content gives the teacher an even better opportunity to strengthen the classroom environment through the understanding and conversations that come from this story.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes on the problem of bullying with familiar characters and the tables have been turned.

[Suzi Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

About being kind and overcoming a bully

[Set · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a nope from me but cute illustrations.

[Sarah Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The absolute perfect book about bullying written in language littles can understand.

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little bitty wolf is being bullied by Red Riding Hood.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We enjoyed the way the characters flipped personalities.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this picture book about bullying where the wolf is being bullied by little red riding hood. Older audiences for subject matter but positive easy suggestions to work on bullies.

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A retelling of Little Red Riding to teach a lesson about bullying.