Folklore: Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood tells the story of a little girl on her way to take her sickly grandmother soup and muffins. Along the way she encounters a hungry wolf who follows her to her grandma's house. The hungry wolf swallows both Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother whole. A woodcutter notices large tracks outside of the cottage and finds the wolf in the house. He notices his stomach move so he cuts it in half and out come Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother. 

The author is very detailed throughout the story and provides a great deal of dialogue between the wolf and Little Red Riding Hood. He makes it clear that it is folklore by the use of this dialogue. The illustrations are extremely detailed and uses many pastels and impressionistic styles.  

Motivational Activities:

1. Have students write their own version of Little Red Riding Hood putting themselves in her position.

2. Have students identify different artistic elements throughout the illustrations in the story.

Reader Response Questions:

1. What was the lesson the story was trying to teach?

2. Should Little Red Riding Hood taken the wolfs advice and collected kindling for a fire before going to her house?

Pinkney, J., Grimm, J., & Grimm, W. (2007). Little Red Riding Hood. New York, NY: Little, Brown.