Little Red Riding Hood Book

This classic version of Little Red Riding Hood, authored and illustrated by Gennady Spirin, is adapted from The Brothers Grimm earliest tale, Rotkappchen, published in 1812. Spirin's Russian adaptation came highly recommended through my local public library. The retelling is based on Spirin's childhood memory of the oral version he grew up hearing in Russia. The narrative is simple and direct. The 17th century Renaissance Dutch inspired illustrations are the most captivating aspect of Spirin's tale. The wolf is elaborately attired in extravagant clothing embellished in white lacey collars and cuffs, golden buttons and cording, and decorative plumes streaming from his over-sized chocolate brown felt brimmed hat. Little Red Riding Hood appears a bit more common in dress with her patchwork skirt, light blue blouse stitched with a white neck boarder and cuffs, and a simple red hood given as a gift from her grandmother. Grandmother is attired in an ornate creamy colored bonnet and a flouncy pale blue dress with cream lace. The inclusion of two fancily clad hunters in this version is also noteworthy. Spirin's dramatic illustrations are meticulously rendered in watercolor and colored pencil. Each page of artwork is off set with a stark white background, which brings the eye and reader's focus back to the central character's actions with Grandmother's canopy bed as the primary location for much of the storyline and artwork. Spirin attended both the Moscow Academy of Art and the Moscow Stroganov Institute and has received five gold medals from the society of Illustrators in New York City and the Golden Apple from the Bratislava International Biennial.

This version of Little Red Riding Hood has a pleasing ending and is one that young children could repeatedly enjoy while appreciating the expressive illustrative work of Spirin. I would recommend this book for late preschool through mid-elementary. In the classroom, this version is the perfect compliment to a study on cultural influences and varying adaptations on well-known fairy tales. While guiding student's focus toward illustrations and their impact on picture book story telling through comparing and contrasting collections.