Little Red Riding Hood: A Newfangled Prairie Tale

by Lisa Campbell Ernst

A feisty, bike-riding heroine, her tractor-driving grandmother, and a wolf with a hankering for Grandma's award-winning wheat berry muffins -- this is not your grandmother's Little Red Riding Hood!

Genres: Picture Books, Fairy Tales, Folklore, Childrens, Fractured Fairy Tales, Fiction, Fantasy

40 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 1995

About the author

Lisa Campbell Ernst was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma in 1957. She received a Bachelor's degree in art from the University of Oklahoma, and then won an internship as a guest editor for Mademoiselle Magazine in New York City. She has written and illustrated over twenty picture books including Stella Louella's Runaway Book, which won the Children's Choice Award in Kansas, and Sam Johnson and the Blue Ribbon Quilt.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

A weak retelling of the traditional fairy tale puts Little Red Riding Hood on a bike, has the wolf hunting muffins, and gives us a grandmother who doesn't believe in living like a stereotype.

Sometimes change is good, other times it's just meh.


FOR REFERENCE:

Rated “Indifferent" in our old book database by Rod and Adelia, Feb. 21, 2003.

[Joelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Red Riding Hood: A Newflangled Prairie Tale is a contemporary version of the original story written by Charles Perrault. This adaptation features a plucky girl in a red hoodie, a bicycle, a basket full of wheatberry muffins and lemonade, and loads of country charm.
I first encountered this version serving as an inclusion specialist in a pre-k classroom nearly ten years ago. My co-teacher favored fairy tale studies, and had amasssed many variations of these classic stories. This particular version is close to my heart, as it was one of the first read aloud experiences he permitted me to lead. Reading aloud to children is one of my favorite parts of the job, and I relished this opportunity.
I so appreciated the fact that Little Red and her farmer grandmother were sturdy, spunky, and self-sufficient, and that this bumbling, stammering wolf had a penchant for baked goods rather than human flesh. I was also touched that Little Red and her grandmother used opportunities to teach the wolf rather than to scold him, and that the wolf was open to learning and embraced his new role in their lives.
This story is appropriate for Prek-K students, and could be used as a comparison to other Red Riding Hood tales (with the use of illustrations and simple labels). I also really appreciated the inclusion of a recipe for the wheatberry muffins, and for classrooms that permit such activities, a muffin bake off would be tremendous fun (ensuring no allergens are utilized, baking equipment is available, and parental permission is obtained). Barring access to a culinary experiment, a taste test of various muffins might be a nice alternative, which could include mathmatical charting, or writing or drawing their own recipes.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the story with this one. LRRH's grandmother is not about to be eaten, and I like the setting on the prairie. I wasn't a fan of the illustrations, though some may like them. Side note: could LRRH not have been wearing a helmet while on her bicycle!

[Chloe Gough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for a classic story to read to your students? Little Red Riding Hood by Lisa Campbell Ernst is a perfect choice! This book contains the classic storyline, but with new and innovative illustrations! Follow along on a little girl’s journey to her grandmother’s house. When she reaches her destination, she faces a surprise visitor! This book teaches students about the dangers of trusting strangers, and the importance of following rules. Pick up a copy of this classic book at your local bookstore today!

[Bhebden Hebden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lisa Campbell Ernst’s Little Red Riding Hood: A Newfangled Prairie Tale, was selected based on a recommendation from my local public library staff librarian. The front cover offers the reader an immediate signal that this tale of Little Red Riding Hood is channeling a more “modern” twist with Red Riding Hood pedaling a two wheel bicycle dressed in sneakers, blue denim shorts, topped with a red “hoodie” sweatshirt jacket. Set in a mid-western prairie, the summer’s scorching heat provides reason for Little Red Riding Hood to deliver cold lemonade and a basket of homemade wheat berry muffins, (made from a secret recipe!) to her grandmother. Following Little Red Riding Hood’s bike check of airing up tires and a brake test, her mother provides the proverbial warning of “don’t talk to strangers”. Pedaling past the edge of town she reaches the shortcut through a wheat field when she comes face to face with a conniving wolf. The ravenously hungry foe is only interested in securing the “secret recipe”, which grandma has in her keeping, for the scrumptious smelling muffins. This humorous rendition finds grandma driving a tractor as the scheming wolf tries to sneak up and grab her. Grandma is all too familiar with the antics of the wolf and overpowers him. She then confesses her original role as Big Red Riding Hood when she lived in the forest. The rest of the tale continues with a light-hearted business adventure involving Grandma, the wolf, and Little Red Riding Hood that is completely silly and friendly in terms of fairy tales.

Ernst’s cartoon-like character illustrations include soft pastels, ink and pencil etchings. The pastel tones highlight the prairie field imagery and provide a distinct contrast to Little Red Riding Hood’s hooded jacket. Ernst’s creative narrative is skillfully complemented through her imaginative and fun-loving illustrations. Young children will be charmed by her expressive impressions of the characters.

This modern-day prairie version of Little Read Riding Hood is a perfect read aloud choice for late preschool/early primary grades. For classroom purposes, this book is ideal for comparing and contrasting Little Red Riding Hood tales, the study of humorous stories/fiction, and story reenactments, for grades K-4th.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Summary and Analysis:

Little Red Riding Hood: A Newfangled Prairie Tale is a book that would be appropriate for older readers or younger readers with support, as there is a lot of text in this book. The major difference between this book and the traditional Little Red Riding Hood tale is the setting. This book is set in the American Midwest in a farm town. The time period is a great deal more modern, as well, as Little Red Riding Hood wears a red hoodie and rides a bicycle. Just like in the traditional tale, Little Red Riding Hood is given the task of bringing something to her sick grandmother. Along the way, she is pestered by a wolf - who beats her to her grandmother's house. However, the climax of this book varies greatly from the traditional tale. Before he can get inside the house and disguise himself, the wolf encounters granny (on her tractor). The famous dialogue ensues - both it is the wolf that is asking the questions. This book is wrapped up with an ending that is decidedly more positive than any of the other versions of the tale I read. Some readers might enjoy this happy ending but I thought that it changed the traditional tale too much, and was completely random, and for that reason, I did not like this book very much.

As with many of the "Little Red Riding Hood" tale I selected this week, the authors of this particular tale chose to make major changes to the setting of the story. I feel that the setting and characters in this book really worked - Little Red Riding Hood riding a bicycle and wearing a hoodie was an excellent "updated" image.

In regards to other plot points, I even didn't mind that the county fair award winning muffins were so tempting to the wolf and that was why he wanted to accost Little Red Riding Hood and go to grandma's house. However, the fact that the characters all go into the muffin business together at the end and the wolf winds up warning Little Red Riding Hood not to talk to strangers was ludicrous.

The female protagonist in this tale was just as silly and weak as in other other tales. She gets distracted on the way to grandma's house and she talks to strangers along the way (the wolf!). Even the wolf was a weaker character in this version, as he didn't want to eat anyone - only steal and eat muffins or take the muffin recipe. The wolf even does a 180 in the end of the book and becomes helpful (and wears an apron!). On the other hand, the grandma in this particular version of the traditional fairy tale is a strong character. I especially enjoyed the scene when the grandma is on the tractor and confronts the wolf - grabbing him by his suspenders.

[Jessica Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one Little Red you do NOT want to mess with!

Little Red Riding Hood sets off to her Grandma’s house with a basket of delicious wheat-berry muffins and ice cold lemonade. It starts out as the typical fairy tale story you were expecting, but then...plot twist! We soon learn that this Little Red isn’t your typical fairy tale girl. Instead of wearing a cape, she wears a big, baggy sweatshirt with the hood up. She wears edgy red sneakers and blue jean shorts down to her kneecaps. Instead of skipping through the woods, she rides her bike after “airing up the tires” and “testing the brakes.” As she pedals, she creates her own trail through the sunflowers, showing that this Little Red marches to the beat of her own drum. The big bad wolf is an interesting character as well- he’s a vegetarian! Instead of craving human flesh, he is after the secret ingredient that makes Little Red Riding Hood’s muffins so delicious.

I absolutely loved this version of Little Red Riding Hood. It’s so creative, unique, and full of spunk! The wacky character and vibrant illustrations are guaranteed to make you smile. The author writes with bold humor and clever wit. Teachers can use this book to talk about the theme of power. Students can discuss how Little Red Riding Hood and Grandma have the power in this story, whereas in other stories the wolf seems to have the power. The wolf simply doesn’t know the women he is messing with!

[L- Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this up-to-date version leaves the reader with no surprise when Little Red is wearing a red sweatshirt and she rides her bike through the prairie to see her farmer Grandmother, delivering muffins and lemonade. “Red” meets the town folk as she rides along and sure enough, that curious, hungry wolf. The wolf stalls her by encouraging her to pick flowers and he hurries ahead to find Grandma’s house. She is out on her tractor, working in the fields. Mistaking her for a man, he shouts insults to Grandma, which results in a total reversal of script. Grandma promises the shaken wolf that her hands are “all the better to crush you like a bug”. The wolf becomes a "changed animal" and gainfully employed in Grandma’s bakery! The plucky Grandma and converted Wolf result in a wonderful twist. This version is a must for classroom comparisons of this classic tale and will be an enthusiastic read aloud for grades K-4. The pictures are charming, supporting the bright, light hearted version of Little Red.

[529_allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first the reader is led to believe that this version of Little Red Riding Hood will be the same as the classic version, but with updated language and the prairie as a setting. However as you read along you come to a surprise ending that is sure to delight the reader. Little Red Riding Hood sets off on her bike to bring her grandma some muffins and lemonade. As she weaves her way through the prairie she encounters a hungry wolf who distracts Little Red from getting to grandma's house. After he successfully prolongs her journey, the wolf rushes to get to grandma's house first. The new spin on this classic tale happens when the wolf arrives at grandma's and the woman takes matters into her own hands.
This modern take on a traditional story is sure to engage the reader. While young readers would enjoy this story as a read aloud, some of the rich language would be lost. With more mature readers the word choice in this book would lend itself to teaching context clues. For any student this book is sure to delight.

[Bridget F · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a little girl who lives by a prairie and she always wears a red jacket when she rides her bike, so they called her Little Red Riding Hood. Little Red Riding Hood tells her mom she should bring her grandma muffins and lemonade because it’s going to be a hot day. Little Red gets on her way on her bike, and her mom reminds her not to talk to strangers. She rides past a gas station, the feed store, and takes a shortcut through the crops. The wolf smells the muffins and sneaks up on Little Red, asking her about the delicious smelling muffins. Little Red tells the wolf where she is headed and that the muffins win in the county fair every year. Wolf suggests that Little Red pick some flowers, and he runs to grandma’s to steal her muffin recipe. He sneaks up on grandma on her tractor, and she grabs a hold of him. He finds out that she is a feisty granny who doesn't put up with pesky wolves. Little Red Riding Hood arrives, and grandma lectures the wolf while they all sit down to eat together. Grandma decides to open a muffin shop with her award-winning muffins, and the wolf works at the muffin shop, too busy to cause trouble anymore. Little Red delivers the muffins for the shop, and the wolf reminds her, “Don’t talk to strangers.”

I would use this book to compare the time period of different Little Red Riding Hood stories. I would guide students to see that this takes place in modern time in the country. Other Little Red Riding Hood stories take place a long time ago.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

In an attempt to get away from the Big Bad Wolf, Granny, Little Red and their family moved out of the woods and into the peaceful prairie. Well, it was peaceful, until one morning when Little Red put on her red hooded sweatshirt and decided to ride her red bicycle over to Granny's to deliver some muffins and lemonade. Along the way, the smell of the muffins, causes the hungry wolf to decide that he needs the muffins more than the "feeble old granny wandering around in the fields". The wolf distracts Little Red and beats her to Granny's in an attempt to get the muffins for himself. Unfortunately for the wolf, Granny isn't feeble and she isn't wandering - she's working in the fields and is in no way going to let the wolf, whom she refers to as a scoundrel, take anything from her! Little Red arrives just in time to help Granny decide what to do with the wolf, and while they're figuring it out, they decide to feed him. It turns out, he was hangry, not big or bad! From a burst of inspiration, Granny opens a muffin shop and makes the wolf her chief baker. In a delightful twist on the traditional story with colorful and engaging illustrations, the reader is treated to a newfangled tale of life on the prairie. Well suited to elementary school age readers.

[Ari]

Yet another rendition of LRRH, Little red riding hood is headed to her grandmother's house to bring her some muffins and lemonade. She sent out on her bike to granny's house. The smell of the muffins caught the wolfs attention, and he rushed towards the smell. The wolf lept in front of LRRH's bicycle. After a small discussion about where the grandmother lived the wolf turned and distracted LRRH by suggesting she pick some sunflowers for granny. So he got a head start to granny's house. When the wolf arrived he found a note on the door that said granny was out in the fields. when he searched the fields all he could see was a farmer on the tractor. The wolf tried to ask the farmer where granny was but he did not hear the wolf. The wolf tried to startle the farmer but before the wolf could do anything the farmer grabbed him by the suspenders. Come to find out the farmer on the tractor was Granny. Then LRRH got to granny's house and granny lectured the wolf while he ate the muffins. Soon grandma opened her own muffin shop and the wolf worked there so he wouldn't cause any more trouble.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A retelling of the classic Little Red Riding Hood tale. This time Red wears a red hoodie while she rides her bicycle. She is taking secret ingredient muffins to grandmother when she meets a fox who convinces her to pick flowers as he will run to grandmother's house and steal her muffin recipe. Grandmother ends up being much stronger than the wolf ever expected and she turns the classic tale on it's head as she catches the wolf and is told by the wolf, "What big eyes, ears, hands you have, grandmother." Red arrives and she and grandmother feed the wolf some muffins. Grandmother then decides to open a muffin shop with her secret ingredient muffins and the wolf ends up working for her as her best sales-wolf.

This story is good for a unit on fairy tales and their retelling.

This is a good book for a unit on stranger danger.

This is a good book for a unit on food or the food pyramid as muffins are a main plotline.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

The hapless wolf gets more than he bargained for when he aims to steal Grandma's recipe for wheat-berry muffins. This version, which I'm itching to call "Little Hood on the Prairie," is a fairly original retelling of the old tale. It has some interesting alterations. For instance, the grandma is no longer an appetizer or a weak member of the human herd that is ripe for wolfish culling. No, this grand dame is indeed a formidable force to be reckoned with and doesn't need anyone's help to stand up for herself. But for my feeling this prairie tail has lost a little something of the original's dangerous allure.

For the reader interested in more variants on the Red Riding Hood story, I recommend The Trials and Tribulations of Little Red Riding Hood

[AMY · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting story of a little girl who wears a red jacket with a hood when she rides her bike. She decides to take muffins and cold lemonade to her grandma. She meets a wolf who smells the muffins and leads her down the path to pick flowers. He plans to surprise the grandma and steal her muffin recipe. Grandma is on the tractor when the wolf arrives. Granny grabs the wolf and he says "what big eyes you have, " etc. but it never really gets resolved. Red Riding hood shows up. Grandma take the wolf to her kitchen and trains him to bake muffins.. HIs attitude improves because he could now eat all the muffins he wanted. Little Red Riding Hood delivers muffins for sale on her bike. She learns not to talk to strangers. The real recipe for muffins is on the last page of the book. Interesting story. Recommended for grades K-2.

[Iman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe that Lisa Ernst did a great job delivering this story with an updated version of the old traditional tale. I really enjoyed reading the book, which was written in a funny way that definitely will attract the younger readers' attention. The major events in the story were almost the same with a slight difference in the setting. The setting of the story was updated which add to the story a sense of humor. It is fun to read and compare with the original traditional one. For example, Red Riding Hood in the traditional tale was walking through the forest. In this story, she was riding her bike. Also the wolf still the same character in both, but this story shows how his personality is weaker and the grandma was tuff and strong. I highly recommend this book to the elementary library classroom.
Thanks!
Iman

[Aliah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Red Riding Hood: A Newfangled Prairie Tale, by Lisa Campbell Ernst is a familiar story with a truly unpredictable modern plot twist. Dressed in her favorite red hoodie, a wide eyed, loving granddaughter makes her way down the winding Midwestern prairie to her grandmother’s house baring gifts of wheat berry muffins and lemonade. Along the way she meets hungry, greedy old wolf who schemes to steal the family muffin secret. Expecting to meet a feeble old women wolf comes to discover that rough and tough Grandma isn’t having any of his nonsense. Soon the mellower wolf willingly assists Grandma in her muffin shop. This fractured fairy tale will captivate young readers with its more realistic characters, punches of cheeky humor and bright colorful illustrations.

[Morgan Baumbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: An absolutely hilarious modern-day take on Little Red Riding Hood. In this version of the story, the big bad wolf is not that bad after all! Little Red, Grandma, and the wolf become great friends.

Personal Response: I loved this adorable and funny version of a piece of traditional literature. This version of the story is much more relatable to today's children, making it very entertaining.

Descriptions of Illustrations: The illustrations are just as funny as the words of the book! I love the cartoon-like illustrations. They remind me a lot of Arthur!

Classroom Connections: This book is great for teaching youngsters about stranger danger. I also like this story as a lesson to children that things are not always as they may appear.

[Mariola · Rating 4 out of 5]

The unconventional tale "Little Red Riding Hood" by Lisa Campbell Ernst takes place at the edge of a prairie. On one hot day, Little Red Riding Hood wants to bring some treats to her grandmother. She hops on her bike and off she goes! On her way there, Little Red Riding Hood meets a devious wolf who is interested in her muffins. The wolf races to the grandmother's house, hoping that he will steal the muffin recipe from her, but the grandmother is not who he thinks she is.

This tale is recommended for ages 7-10. It can be used to display the differences between conventional and unconventional tales.

[Lizzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book out loud to a class of 3rd graders.

As a retelling of Little Red Riding hood, this story is fine. Nothing too groundbreaking going on here. I liked the active role the grandmother had in this version of the story. Perhaps it was because we didn't have tons of dedicated time to analyzing all the ways this story differed from a "traditional" version of the story, but it still felt pretty similar to the original to me.

If I were teaching a fairy tale unit in middle or high school I would definitely use this as an anchor text, but with younger students I just don't think there's enough to set this retelling apart from others for it to be worthwhile.

[Joanne Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my FAVORITE books back in elementary school! I was OBSESSED with this book. The pictures were awesome! I loved the girl riding her bike through the fields and her grandma making muffins along with the funny wolf dude always stalking for her grandma's muffins. LMAO. There's also a recipe in the back. Little Red Riding Hood was adventurous, brave, and fearless. I also loved Little Red just riding her biking through the prairie fields. I probably need to re read it again, but this is what I remember as a child. Thank you, Lisa Campbell Ernst, for making my childhood memories! LOL.

[Kayla Aguirre]

Summary: This is the story of little red riding hood delivering muffins to her grandmother. In the process, she meets the wolf on the prairie. By the time she gets to her grandmother's house, the grandmother has already taken care of the wolf and she keeps him busy with work to keep him out of trouble.

Evaluation: This is a cute spin on the traditional little red riding hood. It is funny and lighthearted.

Activity: I would use this book along with Little Red Riding Hood to compare the similarities and differences between the characters, setting, and events in the story.

[Paige Fulkerson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I think it is such a fun take on the classic story and involves a much happier ending! I liked how the grandma ended up being the one to intimidate the wolf opposed to the other way around.
Some differences I noticed:
Modernized, has a red sweatshirt
Little red’s idea to bring the muffin due to the scorching heat
The wolf is entranced by muffins and wants to steal the recipe
The wolf is scared of farmer grandma and tells her “oh what great eyes / arms …”
The wolf becomes friends with grandma and red riding hood

[RLL220_Morgan Knollenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this version of Little Red Riding Hood! It still has the same story line except this Little Red is one powerful little girl. I love how they change little red to be a bit on the tom-boy side but strong, brave and powerful. Not the small scared little girl that gets fooled by the wolf. This gives such an amazing message to the little girls reading this book. A much better message then the original! The wolf doesn’t know who he is messing with!

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I don’t usually like when an original story gets changed, this was a sweet twist on the tale. The grandmother was shown to be working and strong, which negates the whole stereotype of the frail, weak grandmother/woman who gets taken advantage of. It was also nice how much they reminded kids throughout the story to not talk to strangers. I thought the colors were beautiful and the illustrations were lovely.

[Kimberly Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute spin of the original story, and in this version Little Red rides a bike instead of walking. She is takes her grandmother muffins because it is hot outside instead of a basket of food because she is sick. In the end the wolf does not get killed or chopped up by the hunter but the grandmother opens a muffin shop at the wolf loves. Cute book for preschoolers through 3rd grade.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting take that's (sort of, if you squint) a sequel to the original Red Riding Hood story if the original story happened In The Big Woods. (The fact that this then happened on the prairie makes me think of the LITTLE HOUSE series, even though THIS story seems to be happening in the modern day.) Also featuring: a vegetarian wolf, an amazing grandmother, and a muffin recipe.

[Hannah Atwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the classic Little Red Riding hood story with very little differentiation from the classic tale. This would be enjoyed by any age depending on how you use it! I would use this in a lesson about traditional literature, because it is a classic story that has been rewritten and told in dozens of different ways!

[Becca Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this little red riding hood story little red was going to bring her grandma lemonade and muffins because it was a hot day outside. Grandma did not like the heat so little reds mother sent little red to bring grandma treats. In this version the wolf did not eat little read or grandma, but he tried to eat the treats. Instead of grandma yelling at the wolf, she gave the wolf a job at her bakery.

[Miao · Rating 4 out of 5]

My students are reading Little Red Riding Hood as one of our fairy tale unit choice this week. This is one of the book I will be reading with my students. The wolf wants to steal grandma’s secret muffin recipe. This grandma is smarter and stronger than the wolf. The wolf ended up working at grandma’s muffin shop and turn into a good character. It is an interesting version of Little Red Riding Hood compare to the traditional version. My students compare and contrast both stories using graphic organizer as well as looking for problem and solution in the story. The pictures on both pages (left and right) are connected which brings in more joy and visual connections between each page.