Goldilocks meets Little Red Riding Hood in this charming and unexpected fairytale mashup from the New York Times bestselling Illustrator of Easter Cat ! KNOCK! KNOCK! When the Three Bears answer the door, it's not Goldilocks they meet, but a stranger from a different story. It's Little Red Riding Hood—and the Big Bad Wolf is close behind her! Still, much unfolds as expected: porridge is eaten, a chair is broken, and there is a girl asleep in Baby Bear's bed. Does Little Red fit in this book after all? Perhaps it's the Wolf who will surprise us. With a bit of courage and much compassion, the Bears and Little Red learn that characters, just like the stories we tell, can change over time. In this quirky combination of familiar fairy tales, Claudia Rueda tells a new story about what happens when we open our minds, hearts, and homes to the utterly unexpected. FAIRYTALES—WITH A TWIST: From the original mind of Claudia Rueda, this fresh take on classic fairy tales is an inspired nod to the storytelling tradition and reveals how some of our most beloved, time-honored children's stories interact with each other . . . literally, and with hilarity. This fairytale mashup will charm even the most jaded of readers with its humor, its wild and endearing characters, and its unexpected meta twists. FOR FANS OF.: Sure to be read side-by-side with mash-up classics like Jon Scieszka's The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and David Wiesner's The Three Pigs ! MILLENNIAL LITTLE RED: Little Red Riding Hood has got a punk personality and aesthetic. She breaks down the barriers that stand in her way, including escaping traditional narratives and endings. EMPATHY FOR THE WOLF: Is The Big Bad Wolf really so big, and really so bad? Approach a "villain" with a little empathy, and you may just make a new friend! INSPIRED BY BOOKS: Inspired by antique books, Claudia Rueda has infused this book with classic bookmaking, from flourishes on book covers and type design, to playing with meta touches like walking between books, past title pages, and in to other stories. CURRICULUM TIE-IN: Perfect for teachers and librarians looking for tools for teaching about storytelling and narrative. Perfect for: For fans of fairytale mash-ups, parents, educators PreS-Gr 2-Classic fairy tales collide in this self-aware spin on "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." Seeking an escape from the Big Bad Wolf, Red Riding Hood exits her own book and knocks on the door of The Three Bears, who reluctantly give her refuge. Porridge is eaten, chairs are broken, and beds are slept in-when suddenly the Wolf arrives and the characters scurry over to the next book, invading The Three Little Pigs' home. It turns out the Big Bad Wolf isn't so bad after all, and with an act of kindness from Little Bear, the book ends happily. Softly rounded pencil illustrations catch the eye with luminous blends of colors and delicate lines, while attractive typesetting and decorative borders lend a storybook aesthetic to the pages. The uncomplicated prose makes for an appealing read-aloud, and positive themes of empathy and understanding will resonate with audiences of all ages. VERDICT A pleasing addition to large picture book collections, especially where fairy tales are popular.-Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Lib., CAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. “Soft, overlapping strokes of colored pencils define the rounded forms of the characters, the curving shapes of their surroundings, and the delicate drawings framing the text. From the tone of the text to the look of the art, there’s a gentle quality to this pastiche that gives it considerable child-appeal. An amusing choice for kids who know their nursery tales.”- Booklist “The book starts with just the right amount of sweetness and snark, with the affectionate, adorable bear family counterbalanced by the chaotic (though just as adorable) whirlwind of Little Red. . . . The filigree-like framing of the text underscores the fairy tale feel here, and the delicate hatching and muted tones of the colored pencil art keep the illustrations gentle but focused. . . .”- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books “Softly rounded pencil illustrations catch the eye with luminous blends of colors and delicate lines, while attractive typesetting and decorative borders lend a storybook aesthetic to the pages. The uncomplicated prose makes for an appealing read-aloud, and positive themes of empathy and understanding will resonate with audiences of all ages.”— School Library Journal “Rueda’s punchy, economical narrative and the clear typeface put this within reach of new readers. The gentle twist and metafictive conceit will serve as a conversation starter and may inspire other sendups and blendings of nursery plotlines and characters. An amusing and lighthearted introduction to metafiction.”- Kirkus Reviews “This is no