Saturday, April 20, 2013

Little Red Riding Hood

Bethany, 7, has been dancing to a song in her clogging class called "Little Red Riding Hood".  For that reason, or maybe not, she has been asking me for some time to find a book about Little Red for her to read.  Since she has been reading easy chapter books this year, I thought maybe I could find something appropriate for her on that level.  I couldn't.  I did, however, find this cute little book.  Little Red Riding Hood - A Newfangled Prairie Tale by Lisa Campbell Ernst is really a nice retelling of the traditional story.  Bethany and Brecklyn loved it.  At the end of the book is a recipe for Grandma's Wheat Berry Muffins.  Yes, they are delicious!  Made with wheat flower, blueberries (fresh or frozen) and a secret yummy, healthy ingredient they are good for you, too. 


Inspired by the story, Bethany and Brecklyn made a batch of muffins and a quart of lemonade.  Bethany donned a red hoodies sweatshirt and they went next door to Grandma's house and delivered the package.  They knocked and introduced themselves as Little Red and the Wolf.  Then they and Grandma had a little snack.  Grandma was so excited.  She told all her friends at the temple and her sisters about her fun visitors.


Then, because Amazon can practically read my mind by this point, it suggested I buy Petite Rouge by Mike Artell and Jim Harris.  Now, this is my favorite Little Red Riding Story EVER!  I have read it out loud to my children at least four times in the past couple of days since we have had it and this is why:  the entire story is written in a cajun accent and it is so fun to read.  The read-aloud value is priceless.  Every mom should take a stab at it.  I don't think it would be at all fun for a child to read to himself, however.   With the introduction at the beginning of the book about the heritage of the cajun people and the brief glossary of French words and their meanings that are found in the story, this book is also an opportunity to learn about this group of people.  Of course, we added a map and talked about swamps and the bayou.  Add a discussion of alligators and you could really have history, science, and geography all covered for a morning.  Plus, it is just darn fun!
                                          

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