"Oh, right! And Little Black Riding Hood answered ... "
"It was Little Red Riding Hood! Red! Red! Red!"
"Oh, right! And she answered: I'm going to the
grocery story to buy some tomato sauce."
"Not in your wildest dreams, Grandpa!
It's: I'm going to Grandmother's house,
because she's sick, but I've lost my way."
This is a very appealing read aloud that will have listeners unable to keep from responding to the silliness. A grandfather sits to share a familiar fairy tale with his granddaughter. He starts with a girl named Little Yellow Riding Hood, much to the alarm of his devoted listener. She is quick to correct him, and his immediate and oft-repeated response is appropriate: "Oh, right!"
It will take no time for astute participants in the storytelling to recognize the trajectory of this most enjoyable book. Each new sentence is quite ridiculous, and not in keeping with the familiar tale. The child is quick to correct her grandfather. A potato peel for her grandmother's basket? No, bread! She meets a giraffe in the woods? No, a wolf.
Anyone who reads with kids will know how impatient they will become with the nonsensical ideas Grandpa is upholding as the story moves forward. It just gets zanier and zanier; the contradictions will be louder, the laughs longer, and the enjoyment beyond measure. When the wolf provides guidance for finding a quarter for bubble gum, the little one runs out of patience. She finally lets her grandfather know, once and for all, that he is not good at telling stories correctly. Perhaps he should give her a quarter so she can get her own bubble gum. He happily hands the coin to her, gives her a big hug, and goes back to reading his newspaper.
The mixed-media illustrations by Beatrice Alemagna are charming, and full of life as the two exchange dialogue throughout the tale told. They exude the warmth of the relationship and engaging humor at every turn, while making the heartfelt connection between the two.
It is great fun from start to finish! I hope to read with my granddaughters during a FaceTime visit in the near future.
No comments:
Post a Comment