Little Red Riding Sheep

by Linda Ravin Lodding, Cale Atkinson (Illustrator)

The beloved classic, Little Red Riding Hood , has never had a cuter, more enthusiastic star than Arnold in this witty picture book that’s perfect for reading aloud.

Arnold is an eager young sheep who is excited to be in his very first book. No problem-o! Except he’s a bit big and fluffy to play Little Red Riding Hood, and he’s a tiny bit scared of the deep dark woods. Oh, and he has a friend who would be just perfect as Granny…perhaps the author wouldn’t mind a few suggestions?

Genres: Picture Books, Fairy Tales, Childrens, Animals, Storytime, Humor, Fractured Fairy Tales

40 pages, Hardcover

First published August 8, 2017

About the author

Linda Ravin Lodding is the award-winning author of ten children’s picture books, including her latest, Babies Are Not Bears (Reycraft Books). Her stories brim with humor, heart, and curiosity—often inspired by the world around her.

Her debut picture book, The Busy Life of Ernestine Buckmeister (Flashlight Press), won the Comstock-Gág Read Aloud Book Award and was read aloud by Emmy Award–winning actress Connie Britton for the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Storyline Online. Its timeless message about the importance of play continues to resonate in classrooms and homes worldwide.

Linda’s other books include A Gift for Mama (a New York Times notable title), Painting Pepette, Hold That Thought, Milton!, The Queen Is Coming to Tea, Little Red Riding Sheep, Wakey, Wakey, Elephant!, When We Had to Leave Home, and Flipflopi: How a Boat Made from Flip-Flops Is Helping to Save the Ocean. Flipflopi has received both the prestigious Children’s Africana Book Award and the Skipping Stones Honor Award as a "timely and timeless resource in multicultural and global education."

A native New Yorker, Linda earned her BA in English from Barnard College, Columbia University, and an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business. She has since lived in Austria and the Netherlands and now calls Stockholm, Sweden home.

When she’s not writing, Linda works as Head of Communications for Global Child Forum—a foundation initiated by the Swedish Royal Family to advance children’s rights in the corporate sector. She’s also active in the writing community as founder of the Stockholm Children’s & Illustrator’s Network, faculty at the Stockholm Writers Festival, and a longtime member of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators).

Linda regularly offers school visits—both virtual and in-person—with a focus on international schools. Her sessions are engaging, curriculum-connected, and filled with laughter, behind-the-scenes stories, and practical tips for young storytellers.

To learn more, visit www.lindalodding.com, or follow her on Instagram (@lindaravinlodding_author) and Facebook.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

As our narrator attempts to spin the traditional tale of Little Red Riding Hood, he finds himself interrupted by Arnold the sheep, determined to star in the story. Arnold has a number of suggestions for improving the narrative, from casting his friends - Einer the muskrat and Frankie the warthog - as the characters to setting everything in Palm Springs (so much less frightening than the woods!). Eventually the narrator gives in, and the story goes in a different direction from the one originally intended...

I found Little Red Riding Sheep an enjoyable fractured fairy-tale, and would imagine that, with its back-and-forth between Arnold and Eugene the narrator, it will make for an amusing read-aloud selection at story-time. The artwork by Canadian illustrator Cale Atkinson is colorful and appealing, capturing the madcap humor in author Linda Ravin Lodding's story quite well. Recommended to anyone looking for revisionist fairy-tale retellings, as well as to those who enjoy more meta-fictional picture-books.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I picked this up for free.

This is a very funny retelling of Little Red Riding. So this sheep wants in on the story because he is fed up with being a background character. It is very funny.

[Elizabeth P · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved it, EXCEPT for the part where the sheep is referred to as "plump" and has the illustrator re-draw him. Seriously, does everyone in any book ever have to feel like they are "fat" and want to be "thin"? This message is so pervasive and so unhealthy for kids.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lodding, Linda Little Red Riding Sheep, PICTURE BOOK. Antheneum (Simon), 2017. $18.

The narrator/author is trying to tell the traditional story of little red riding hood when there is an interruption –Arnold the sheep is pretty insistent that he be Little Red. Then he has a lot of other ideas- who should play what character (he is terrified of real hungry wolves and has a suggestion for who the wolf could be played by instead), how the setting could be better (because he is scared of the deep dark woods too). Arnold even asks for changes from the illustrator.

I will immediately incorporate this book into my K-1 lessons on character (which I nicely place after those on author and illustrator and this acts as a review of those)! I think readers will love that the character is interacting with the author and being funny (one epic barf scene) and creative. For upper elementary it could be used for a lesson on twisted or fractured fairy tales. For example: imagine ‘harry potter’ (or alt character) was the character of ‘jack’ in jack and the beanstalk (or alt.story) -what would he do the same/different, how would it change the story? This would get them thinking more deeply about characters and how they might react to situations outside of their own story. It could be used for a quick read aloud as part of a lesson for even high school readers on MetaFiction.

EL(K-3), EL –ESSENTIAL. Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...

[Rebecca Grabill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a zany, fun take on a favorite story! I loved the creativity, the unique point of view, the sheepiness (because, sheep). A mash-up of Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive the Bus and the traditional take. The parent in me wished my daughter would get into it and be all talking back to the sheep (it takes a few reads for some kids to “get” the structure—worth it though). The author in me was taking notes. Really creative and fun.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sheep is all over the place. Where did all their creativity come from?

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A metafictional, fractured fairy tale featuring a quite eager young sheep named Arnold.a

[Miranda Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Once upon a time there was a little girl in a red hood -- who are you?"
"I'm Arnold."
"Arnold, you're not a little girl....
"Well . . . technically, no. But when I scrouch down I get little. See?"

Arnold, a fluffy Heidschnucke sheep, has decided that it's his time to shine...and so he's taken over this classic fairytale, much to the narrator's annoyance.

But writing often takes compromises, so the narrator decides to let Arnold be the Little Red Riding Hood of this story...but that's not the only change that's going to happen to the story. Arnold has LOTS of ideas.

"The Wolf ran straight to Grandmother's house and knocked at the door"
"Just one more itty-bitty thing. If you don't have a granny for this story. I have this friend --"

And soon this once simple story goes off it's rocker. Will Arnold be able to squeeze in all his friends into the story? Will the narrator even be able to tell a coherent story? Will there be a Happily Ever After???

Oh my goodness, this is such a cute book. I want to squish it.

The plot had a good balance between telling the original story and absolute chaos - I think this might be one of my favorite renditions of Little Red Riding Hood yet!

The interrupting sheep was hilarious throughout - I loved all of the little 'suggestions' Arnold would provide for the story.

The illustrations were fabulous - the characters were a-freaking-dorable and so fun to watch as they reacted to various events in the story.

[Jane Maple · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the process of telling little red riding hood a sheep pops up and begs to be part of the story. He explains that he is usually relegated to the background but he really wants to be the main character. Reluctantly this agreed to, but then Arnold has a few changes for the story. He doesn’t like woods so he erases some of the trees. He thinks Grayy should live in Palm Springs with some Chinese checkers and lemon poppy cake. Arnold suggests that Einer the muskrat play the part of the wolf (he make scary faces). He has his illustrater friend Luigi make him less appetizing by erasing some of his fluff. He casts his friend Frankie a warthog as Granny. He suggests that instead of having the wolf eat granny he should invite her to a ball. Finally the author, a water buffalo named eugene gives up and asks Arnold to come up with a story and include him. So he suggests that all the friends have lemon popy cake in Palm Springs.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fractured fairy tales have always been very popular with my students, and I'm sure this one will be a big hit as well! Arnold is a sheep that desperately wants to be a part of this Little Red Riding Hood story. Once the author agrees, he becomes very demanding and wants to make all sorts of changes to the book. Young readers will have a lot of fun seeing all the changes Arnold wants to make. This could be a great mentor text for kids trying to make fun and creative changes to their own favorite fairy tales. The digital illustrations are bold, bright, and hilarious! This book would be awesome to have in any classroom library.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

#38 in my 365 Kids Books challenge and multi-year request to Goodreads to fix the Top Readers, etc. lists. For a full explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia You can see all the books on their own shelf.

I was satisfied with the ending, but not fully convinced until then.

Library copy

[Lauren]

The ideas and the author’s creativity band together to present a silly story for a wide-ranging audience. This book touches on problem-solving and kindness while showing kids a confident and earnest character. Atkinson emphasizes Arnold’s unfailing positivity in cheerfully colored, in-your-face digital illustrations that generate a mood of creative chaos. The digital illustrations are bold, bright, and hilarious!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A modern twist on Little Red Riding Hood involves a sheep named Arnold telling the author how to improve the story. I'm sure kids will get a kick out of these humorous and demanding characters. I think Nesbit's More Bears or Chloe and the Lion are better choices for read alouds in which the characters interact with the author.

[Bmack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really cute fractured fairy tale about a sheep who puts himself into an authors story about Little Red Riding Hood. The author and Arnold the sheep have a conversation throughout the story and Arnold is able to convince the author to include some of his other friends into the story. Kids will like this story.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meet Arnold. The sheep who would be “Little Red’, except he doesn’t really like going into the woods. With every sentence the author writes, Arnold has a different suggestion. Maybe Granny should live in Palm Springs ... maybe the wolf should be a muskrat (he does have a scary face). And maybe Granny can be a warthog. Whose story is this, anyway?

Cute

[Ruth Lopez-Castro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a spin of the traditional Little Red Riding Hood, but the sheep (Arnold) in this story is sacred of the woods and would rather live in a field of daises. Throughout the story, Arnold makes suggestions to improve the narrative and eventually the narrator gives in and the story changes direction. This is a very adorable book and I enjoyed reading it.

[Angie Quantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, this is a good fractured fairy tale! First make sure your kiddos are familiar with Red Riding Hood. Then dig right in! Hysterically funny back and forth between the author, I mean Eugene, and the sheep - aka Red Riding Hood. Laughed out loud right in the car dealership...

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love retellings. This one was brought to my attention by my boss. I couldn't stop giggling and had to take it right home to X. We buddy read it several times. Hoping that she decides to rewrite other classics.

[Heydi Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really adorable. Love the meta-fiction aspect.

Great for a retold fairy tales or sheep storytime.

If you like this book try Chester by Melanie Watt. It’s about an author who is writing a book about a mouse but her cat Chester keeps rewriting it. Very fun.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author and charcaters interact is the take on little red riding hood where a sheep begs the author to play little red riding hood. The author and sheep go back and forth about the story. Preschool and up for the complexitiy of the story

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute twist at the end. I liked this book. A twist on a classic fairy tale.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting take on the traditional story.

[Lisa D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book!

[Stefanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very silly meta-retelling of Little Red. I'm sure this would be a hit for classrooms.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sheepy!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fractured fairy tales are always the best. Loved! Made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion! Any book that can do that, hands down, is a good book.

[Mary Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

funny fairy tale mash-up -- this would make great readers' theater for 2nd and 3rd graders!!

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be read with a friend; one part narrator, and one as the sheep. It’s the only way, really. :-)

[Rebecca Caufman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sheep wants to be in a story but isn’t thrilled that the story being read has a wolf and a scary woods. The sheep gets his friends involved too.