Federico and the Wolf

by Rebecca J. Gomez, Elisa Chavarri (Illustrator)

Clever Federico outsmarts el lobo in this Mexican-American take on Little Red Riding Hood.

With his red hoodie on and his bicycle basket full of food, Federico is ready to visit Abuelo. But on the way, he meets a hungry wolf. And now his grandfather bears a striking resemblance to el lobo. Fortunately, Federico is quick and clever—and just happens to be carrying a spicy surprise! Federico drives the wolf away, and he and Abuelo celebrate with a special salsa. Recipe included.
 

Genres: Picture Books, Fairy Tales, Childrens, Latinx, Storytime, Spanish Literature, Animals

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 19, 2020

Reviews

[Rebecca Gomez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote it, so naturally I love it. I hope you do too.

[La Coccinelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Federico and the Wolf is a cute take on "Little Red Riding Hood" where the main character is a little boy with a red hoodie.

Sprinkled with Spanish words, the story follows the basic plot of the original. Federico takes a basket of food to his grandfather's store. But he meets a hungry wolf on the way, and the wolf decides to try to have a snack. (You get the idea.)

The text is charming, with a bouncy rhythm and great read-aloud rhymes. The pictures are certainly colourful, athough I wasn't blown away by them. The wolf is suitably scary, though.

Fans of fairy-tale retellings will probably enjoy this one. I would also recommend it to those looking for English books that have a smattering of foreign words. (The glossary at the back, complete with pronunciation guide, is always a nice thing to have in a book like this.) And don't forget to try the included pico recipe!

Quotable moment:

[Ms. Woc Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun twist on the classic tale.

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A modern day retelling of Little Red Riding Hood with a Spanish twist.

[Shannon (That's So Poe) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book! I loved the artwork, the rhyming, and the use of pico de gallo ingredients as part of the story. Such a fun read!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Federico, decked out in his red hoodie, and with a basket of food, including ingredients for pico de gallo, sets off to his Abuelo's house for a lunch. However, a crafty Lobo (wolf) wants to eat Federico.
The story unfolds....

#Ownvoices author Rebecca J. Gomez gives a delightful Mexican twist on the classic fairytale we all know. Elisa Chavarri gives us stellar, culturally respectful and stunning illustrations to accompany it.
You may learn some Spanish along the way. You may even be treated to Federico's perfect Pico de Gallo recipe too.

[Tiffany Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Federico and the Wolf was a book I came across while looking for Little Red Riding Hood books. It has not won any awards, but I think it should. It is a new favorite I will add to my collection. We follow Federico, the male protagonist in the book as he has to take a basket of food to Abuelo. On his way, he meets el Lobo (the wolf). Frederico comes up with a plan to get rid of the wolf and uses a recipe for his super spicy salsa. A few things stood out to me as special about this book. Representation! Little Red is a male in this book who is Hispanic. Instead of Grandma we have Abuelo (Grandpa). Translanguaging between English and Spanish is present here. The clothing, the market, and food are all representative of Federico's culture. In the end, Abuelo and Frederico make a special spicy salsa named Wolf's Bane Salsa to celebrate! The illustrations are colorful and vibrant, representing Mexican cultural elements of color. I would use this in a classroom to discuss character, setting and solution. It would also be wonderful to do to compare with Little Red Riding Hood and other folktales that are similar form other countries. Using a Venn diagram to discuss similarities and differences. This book would be great for K-4th grade ages.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Federico meets un lobo after shopping at the market for the ingredients on his Abuelo's grocery list. Colorful illustrations and a rhyming English / Spanish text make this an interesting retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Federico saves the day by cleverly using the recently purchased items and later Abuelo and Federico make a salsa with an extra bite. Don't miss the yummy pico de gallo recipe and useful Spanish glossary at the back of the book!

[Faith Tydings · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fractured fairytale based on Little Red Riding Hood with a Latinx twist. Sprinkle in some Spanish vocabulary, rhyming text, and a recipe for Pico and you are in for a real treat with this fun book.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever, funny, rhyming. Little Red Riding Hood retelling with a culinary flair. Vibrant art.

[Cheryl Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Federico and the Wolf written by Rebecca J. Gomez and illustrated by Elisa Chavarri is a fractured fairytale based off of Little Red Riding Hood. This book was recommended to me through a fellow teacher that found it in our school library. It was also reviewed in Kirkus Reviews and School Library Journal, mentioning that it would be appropriate for children ages 3-8 or grades 1-3.

In this humorous retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, Federico is given the task of going to the marketplace to pick up the list of ingredients that his abuelo needs to make the perfect pico de gallo. After making his purchase, he continued on his path to meet Abuelo at his shop, but came across a wolf, who was looking for some food to eat. Federico apologized and hurried away so he could get to the shop on time, but the wolf had other plans in mind. Federico soon found out that the person he thought was Abuelo behind the counter was really the hungry wolf and he was not happy. With some quick thinking, Federico was able to get the wolf to leave so he could help Abuelo. Even though it was a scary experience for the two of them, they were able to use it as inspiration for a new, special sauce.

Federico and the Wolf is a modern twist on the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood, which we see from the very first page, when the author starts the tale with “Once upon a modern time…” instead of the original “Once upon a time…” that we normally see in folktales and fairytales. Though this book has differences from the original, it still maintains the main plot of our protagonist being tricked by our antagonist, the wolf, who he met along the road, as he walked through the forest. However, instead of Little Red being presented as a girl in a red cloak, Gomez decided to make the main character a boy in a red zip-up hoodie that was going to help his abuelo instead of his grandmother. The book brought in a cultural element as well, as the main character’s are a Latinx family. Gomez wove in Spanish words that flowed so nicely with the English text that any reader who didn’t know Spanish, would be able to use context and picture clues to understand what the word was. If they are unable to figure these words out, Gomez includes a Spanish glossary in the back of the book, as well as a recipe for pico de gallo. Additionally, the illustrator brought in elements, such as the colorful papel picado that we see hanging in the marketplace and the image of the wrestling mask, or luchador, on Federico’s shopping bag.

I really enjoyed this book and think that my students would have so much fun with it. Between translating the Spanish words and looking at all the details in the illustrations, I feel there would be lots of smiles and laughs throughout this read aloud. It would be really interesting to compare and contrast this fractured fairy tale with a version of the original story. The students could use a Venn Diagram that is divided into categories so they focus on the elements of folktales, such as the characters, setting, plot, and theme. Then with the help of their graphic organizer they could write a compare/contrast paragraph about the stories. I also think this book could be used as a good mentor text in talking about word choice in their writing, as the author uses so many vivid verbs to make the story exciting for the reader.

[Morgan Dooty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and illustrated! Federico and the Wolf is a clever twist of the classic Red Riding Hood.
Rebecca J. Gomez tells the story with a little bit of Spanish. If you, or your kids, are looking to learn a little bit of Spanish as you read, then this is the book for you!
The fun doesn’t stop after you finish reading! There is a recipe for salsa in the back of the book to make with your kids!

[Paige Dillard · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book for its cultural take on the story of Little Red Riding Hood... HOWEVER I do not enjoy any book that makes it seem as if a wolf, especially a modern day wolf, would want to eat a child. Wolves are very timid in most parts of the world and would be more likely to run away than to approach a human...even a small one.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Hispanic American variation of Little Red Riding Hood. The nod to the original story is that Frederick has a red hoodie. The two main characters have been transformed into a boy and his grandfather. It was a fun take on the story, but nothing special. I liked that the author included a recipe for pico de gallo! Recommended for story time perhaps followed by mixing up some Pico.

[Elizabeth Mellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute take on Little Red Riding Hood! This had a few Spanish words sprinkled throughout and a lovely sounding recipe in the back for pico. Otherwise it didn’t stray wildly from the original with a grandpa needing food, a big bad Wolf, and a child with a red hood.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.

[Gabrielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was adorable! It teaches easy first words in Spanish and shows Federico engaging in creative problem solving. I enjoyed this modern take on the classic Little Red Riding Hood.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this clever Latinx version of Little Red Riding Hood the protagonist is a boy with a red hoodie. The colorful photoshop illustrations bring the rhyming text to life. Federico sets off to the market to buy the ingredients for a perfect pico de gallo on his way to his grandfather's store. Once he gets to the store, Federico realizes that abuelo bears a striking resemblance to the wolf that he encountered in the woods and he saves the day with a well placed habanero. I particularly enjoyed the last pages of this book illustrating the loving relationship between Federico and his abuelo.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute twist on the Little Red Riding Hood story. Spanish words sprinkled throughout. Rhyming was really well-done - no awkward or clunky lines.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! I love modern twists on classic tales. As someone who speaks Spanglish this was quite a treat.

[Sara Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so fun! And the Perfect Pico recipe is a great addition!

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

A modern, Mexican American retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. A boy is warned by his mother to be careful as he takes off on his bike to do some shopping for his Abuelo. He tells a wolf in the woods that he can't stop. When he gets to his Abuelo's store it is closed. The person behind the counter does not look like his Abuelo. Frederico is able to chase off the wolf with some chili powder and a well thrown habanero.

[Kelly M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Federico and the Wolf

Federico and the Wolf, written by Rebecca J. Gomez and illustrated by Elisa Chavarri is a variant of the traditional tale of Little Red Riding Hood. It was nominated in 2022 for the Illinois Choice Award. I found the book on www.diversebookfinder.org, which is in this week Wakely. Though it did not receive any awards or honors, it is a clever retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.

Chavarri's illustration utilizes vibrant colors, which bring the text to life. Most pages feature half-page illustrations, while a few full-page spreads showcase the exciting interactions between Federico and the wolf. The illustrations, created in Photoshop, elicit a painted-on-canvas feel, adding depth and warmth to the story.

Gomez does not stray too far from the essence of Little Red Riding Hood. She introduces a fresh perspective through her protagonist, Federico, a Latino boy in a red hoodie. When his mother sends him to the store to get Abuelo’s grocery list, after his trip to the market, he encounters the wolf as he rides his bike to his grandfather’s store. In the store, the wolf ensues in his trickery, which Federico saves the day in very clever ways.

Gomez adheres to the traditional plot structure - rising action, climax, and falling action - ensuring a familiar rhythm for readers. Her integration of Spanish words enhances the story, utilizing words such as hola, abuela, and Lobo. The pictures and the text ensure readers will not miss a beat in understanding the story. This bilingual approach not only enhances the story but also promotes cultural awareness.

Federico and the Wolf is a perfect picture book for K-2 classrooms, particularly for reading units focused on comparing and contrasting different versions of a classic tale. By challenging the norm of Little Red Riding Hood, the protagonist being a girl. The male protagonist, with his mohawk, red hoodie, and clever ideas to thwart the wolf, is a refreshing change that will captivate students.

I read the physical book

[James C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book while browsing for Little Red Riding Hood texts on the Chicago Public Library website. I checked out a digital copy of the book.

The story follows Federico's journey as he goes to the market to pick up ingredients to make the perfect pico. Once Federico has acquired the ingredients, he journeys through the woods to his Abuelo's shop, but is stopped by a hungry lobo looking for food. Federico ignores the lobo, and rushes off to his Abuelo's shop. But the lobo beats him there, and disguised as Federico's Abuelo, attempts to make a meal out of the young boy.

This was a delightful retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Other than a few minor changes, such as the logo locking up the Abuelo character instead of eating them whole, Federico and the Wolf follows the original tale pretty closely. I really enjoyed how the book used the Spanish words for Grandfather (Abuelo) and wolf (lobo), as well as others peppered throughout the narrative. This could be useful in classes with both EL students and native English speakers who are learning Spanish. The book even includes a recipe for pico at the end, which is a really beautiful touch. The artwork is very lovely - Elisa Chavarri uses a lot of bright colors and action scenes to make the story jump off the page. She also uses a lot of white space, which I think helps the reader really focus on the character designs (which are fantastic).

I don't think this book has much function as a window or a sliding glass door. I do think it gives us as authentic of a Latinx depiction as it can, but the story rushes along quite fast, and we never really linger with any of the cultural elements for too long. I do think it could be an effective mirror for Latinx students, especially considering so much of the traditional literature retellings I found depicted mostly white people. For our Latinx students, this picturebook would help them see themselves as the hero in a fairytale.

[Alicia Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

For: fairy tale fans; readers looking for an exciting modern retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.

Possible red flags: characters in peril.

[Beth Throop · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this rhyming take on Little Red Riding Hood! Beginning with the word “once upon a modern time”, Federico and the Wolf follows Federico as he buys ingredients for pico de gallo to bring to his grandfather. Of course, a wolf tries to foil the plans, but Federico outsmarts him. Little Red Riding Hood is a familiar story to most students, so this twist will capture their attention. I was especially struck by the use of Spanish throughout the book. The words seamlessly fit into the story with lines like “El lobo gulped. He gagged and coughed. His ojos blazed bright red.” Students will see how other languages can add richness to a story and admire the beauty of language.
This book would be a hit with students from K-5. Since the story is familiar, young students could follow it, but the use of language and the twist on the classic mean that older students will still be engaged. With older students, this book could kick off a unit on reworking classic stories and turning them into something more modern. It’s a strong example of folklore, showing how folklore can be a classic tale, but told with a new twist. Since folklore is often passed down orally from generation to generation, the stories naturally change over time. Students can see how there is no single version of any folktale. Rather, many classic tales vary by country and time period.
One activity for students is to compare Federico and the Wolf with the traditional Little Red Riding Hood Story. Students can create a Venn Diagram (or other graphic organizer) to note the similarities and differences between the versions. Students could also read another version of the story (there are many, many options) and compare it, as well. Upper elementary students can also use Federico and the Wolf as a mentor text before writing their own twists on classic tales. Students could alter the time period, location, gender of the characters, and other details, seeing how the story plays out with these changes. A third activity is to play with language just like Rebecca Gomez does. Students who speak another language could write a story or poem, weaving in both languages. This would be a great collaborative assignment between a native-English speaker and an ELL student. Students would see the beauty in all languages and that when we’re not limited to a single language, our storytelling possibilities open up.

[Macy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This folklore story is about a young boy and his trip to the market to get groceries for his Abuelo. On his way to deliver them, he runs into a wolf in the forest who wants a little snack. Federico continues on his way but that's not the last time he will hear from the wolf! This is an awesome book that reminds me of the story of Little Red Riding Hood. It contains words in both English and Spanish which could allow some ELLs to connect to this story and share their own experiences and knowledge with the rest of the class. This book would be a great story to use as a read-aloud in lower-grade elementary classes. Students who speak Spanish may enjoy sharing the meaning of the words in this book that are in Spanish with their fellow classmates or you as the teacher. One way this book could be used in the classroom is during a read-aloud where the teacher asks students throughout the book to predict what they think may happen next. This would be a fun way to keep students engaged and have them work on using context clues and pictures to draw conclusions. This book could also be used to teach students about the genre of folklore and after reading, teachers could have students rewrite the ending to the story in their own way. I think this book is a great one to introduce in the elementary classroom as it is bilingual, has beautiful illustrations, and plays off a folklore story that many people have told in different ways since I was in elementary school and even before. I really liked how this book incorporated both English and Spanish throughout the story in one cohesive text rather than having the whole story in both languages like some bilingual books do.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colorful bright illustrations accompany this new twist on Little red riding hood. Many different improvements; a boy as our main character with a red hoodie, riding his bike to the market place to find the perfect ingredients for pico. On his way to grandpa’s shop, Frederico has to peddle his bike through the woods and comes upon a lobo, the Spanish word for wolf. The wolf is the one posing for grandpa but Frederico outsmarts it with chili powder and a habanero.
More Spanish words are sprinkled throughout the story and there is a list in the back with meanings next to the recipe for the perfect pico.
Rhyming short text makes this a perfect read aloud for the younger grades who will be introduced to a modern version of the well known fairytale and can be used in discussions on retellings. An addition to any library.
Oral
Kindergarten through 3rd grade
R*

[Minda Gomez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Federico and the Wolf is a picture book by Rebecca Gomez, written in English with Spanish words peppered in.

This is a Little Red Riding Hood variation written in perfect Spanglish. The rhymes and use of Spanish words in the English text flow so beautifully that it is very satisfying to read. (I am VERY picky about rhyming books, especially bilingual ones.) The brilliant color illustrations take you on a journey through the market as Rico buys ingredients for his salsa.

Federico is a young Mexican-American boy who sets off to visit his Abuelo to make pico de gallo together.

Along the way, he runs into a sneaky wolf who, as you might imagine, makes it to Abuelo's shop first and dresses up in his clothes.

You will love the surprise ending to this story, and the recipe for pico de gallo (chopped salsa) at the end.

[Robbie Schott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, with a twist. Federico sets off to the market to get ingredients to make the perfect pico but encounters El lobo in the woods. When he gets to his abuleo's store, he finds el lobo in disguise, pretending to be his abuelo. Federico uses a pepper to outsmart el lobo. The author uses Spanish words woven throughout and the pictures are colorful and eye catching.

Teacher's could use this text to help students plan their own retelling of a popular fairy tale. They could change the characters, setting or ending to make a new version. Students could also compare and contrast this story with a classic version of Little Red Riding Hood using a venn diagram.