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Thursday, March 17, 2022

RedLocks and the Three Bears, written and illustrated by Claudia Rueda. Chronicle Books, Raincoast. 2021. $22.99 ages 3 and up

 


"I couldn't sleep 
because Mama's bed
was too soft. That's 
when I saw ... 

Uh-oh!

The wolf!"

Only a few days ago I was telling you about a brand-new fairy tale by Tom Gauld. I mentioned that I still love to read alternate tellings of familiar tales. They tend to have the same characters: readers can count on twists in the telling. 

Told in first-person by the littlest bear, their story begins with porridge and a knock at the door. It's Little Red from the 'book next door' and she's in trouble with the wolf over there. He wants to make a meal of her. She needs help, and Little Bear asks that she stay. 

The parents are sceptical of the events as they are playing out. By the time they make their decision for her to stay, the small bowl of porridge is empty. Red moves on to breaking the smallest chair while regaling them with her story concerning the Big Bad Wolf. Still, the little bear is kind enough to let Red sleep in his bed, while he bunks with Mama. 

When the wolf shows up, the bears and their visitor run quickly to the brick house belonging to the Three Pigs. There is no huffing and puffing, only loud whining. 

"It was the wolf who 
was crying! 

Nobody likes to
have wolves in their 
books. I don't want to 
be the Big Bad Wolf 
anymore.
"

Leave it to the little bear to come up with a solution, and to offer reassurance for Little Red. Off the two go to take porridge to Grandma. The story begins again, with porridge and a knock at the door. They don't answer because they are tired of company for today. So, they never do meet Goldilocks!

This is terrific addition to any fairy tale basket or library collection. I hope you have one.                                                                                    


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