Super Red Riding Hood by Claudia Dávila (Kids Can Press, August 2014) is a twist on the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood, with an emphasis on the super powers of Ruby, a girl who has no fear … or does she? With delightful cartoon-like and friendly illustrations, Ruby’s story shows us that sometimes our kindness is a strength to help us turn enemies into friends!
I liked the fact that this story ended up with Ruby and the Wolf happily coming to an agreement, and Ruby’s spunk is certainly fun. Super Red Riding Hood was a fun twist on a familiar story. My kids loved reading it over and over again, so it certainly has kid-staying power!
If there is any concern that I have it is that children may not recognize the fiction in it. I was a bit bothered by the wolf’s willingness to back down when he could tell Ruby was not going to back down. Bullies do not act like that.
At the same time, I accept that it’s a fairy tale: I definitely can suspend logic to enjoy a fun story, as long as my kids know what to do when they face a real bully!
Note: I received a digital review copy of this book.
