Little Red Hood

Red Riding Hood continues to fascinate and engage us and new versions abound from the recent US fantasy film (Red Riding Hood) just released to new children’s publisher, Phoenix Yard Books’ Little Red Hood, an elegant small format landscape picture book.

Marjolaine Leray studied at the Ecole Duperré in Paris and her graphic style is consummately French with its scribbly pencil line and bold minimalism against a white background. Her assertive dashes of grey (the wolf) or red (guess who) convey menace, confusion, embarrassment, confidence, guile as the two characters interact and the tables turn to Little Red Hood’s advantage. Ardizzone’s well pitched translation acts as a counterpoint to the story. Stylish fun that will stretch young readers’ understanding of visual narrative.