New Book: Little Red Hot by by Eric A. Kimmel (Author), Laura Huliska Beith (Illustrator)

Little Red Hot by by Eric A. Kimmel (Author), Laura Huliska Beith (Illustrator) was released earlier this year. I recently received a review copy and was rather tickled by the book--a new twist on Little Red Riding Hood, obviously. Kimmel has a series of Texan-influenced fairy tale retellings and this is one of my favorites in the bunch.

I've been quiet on the blog as I finish upcoming books in the little free time I've enjoyed this summer. But I have been also getting in a few minutes here and there to update pages on the SurLaLune main site, such as Book Galleries and Modern Interpretations pages. If you are interested in seeing more of the latest releases of Little Red Riding Hood books, go to the Book Gallery.

On with some comments and images from the book:

I've read countless interpretations of Little Red Riding Hood over the years and this one offered a new, unexpected premise:

Folks called her that because she loved to eat red hot chili peppers.

and

Folks used to say that Little Red Hot could eat fire out of a stove.

Little Red Hot would answer, 'No, I wouldn't do that. Fire ain't hot enough!'

And that sets up a fun story with a feisty heroine. How she uses the peppers to outwit the wolf is pretty much expected but still fun all the same. Laura Huliska-Beith's illustrations show that Little Red Hot is never fooled by the wolf, but is only toying with him until she can get rid of him with little danger to herself.

And, for concerned parents, neither Grandma nor any other character is ingested in this book. Little Red Hot saves herself although she gets a good warning of danger from Pecos Bill. All ends happily and some pepper knowledge is shared along the way in both the text and the author's notes.

Book description:

Little Red Hot loves red hot chilli peppers. She eats them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. When her grandmother catches a cold, Little Red makes her a hot pepper pie that will "knock those cold germs right out of her". But before Little Red shares her pie with Grandma, she meets Señor Lobo. The pie comes in very handy when the wily wolf tries to trick her into thinking he's her grandmother.

New Book: The Goldilocks Variations: A Pop-up Book by Allan Ahlberg

The Goldilocks Variations: A Pop-up Book by Allan Ahlberg was released late last year when I was in the throes of other things. So this one has been sitting on my list for a while, unexplored and unknown. Then I started looking at it to share with you. Then I stopped everything and put it in my shopping basket and bought it immediately. I hope my copy is here by Thursday because I am quite eager to play with it. Anything that makes Goldilocks fresh and fun is an immediate success with me!

Book description:

A classic fairy tale is wittily retold by the celebrated Allan Ahlberg, with charming illustrations by his daughter, Jessica Ahlberg.

Everyone knows what happened when Goldilocks met the three bears. But when she encounters a whopping thirty-three bears, the strange-talking Bliim, or even three little pigs, the stories end a bit differently. Lift the flaps and pull the tabs to join Goldilocks in a hilarious series of adventures, as award-winning storyteller Allan Ahlberg and his daughter, Jessica, put their own stamp on the timeless tale.

Now really, in order to get the full effect of this book, it must be seen in person. Flat photos don't do it justice. But the next best thing is video! And, lucky us, there is one: (Beware, you will want to own it, too!)

New Book: Jack and the Baked Beanstalk by Colin Stimpson

 

Jack and the Baked Beanstalk by Colin Stimpson was released in the US this past July and in the UK in February. The reviews have been stellar overall and the illustrations show why.

US book description:

"Fee-fi-fo-fummy, I'm always counting money!"

Jack and his mom run a little café, but business has dried up and they're nearly broke. So when Jack comes home with only an old can of baked beans in return for their last few pennies, his mother throws it out the window. Overnight it grows into a gigantic baked beanstalk, which takes Jack to the castle of a giant who spends all his time counting his huge fortune. Jack helps the giant to find something more fun to do, and saves the café in the process!

UK book description:

In a 1950s-style future, Jack and his mum run a little burger van cafe. The cafe is close to broke because of the new flyover, so when Jack comes home with only an old can of baked beans in return for their last few pennies, his mother throws it out of the window. Overnight it grows into a gigantic baked beanstalk, which takes Jack to the castle of a giant who spends his life counting his huge fortune. Jack helps the giant to find something more fun to do - namely becoming the celebrity chef at Jack's new world-famous cafe.

The images were borrowed from Stimpson's blog where more imagery is also available as well as some development work.