Little Red Riding Sheep

June 5, 2017
Enthusiastic Arnold is tired of sheep—such as himself—being relegated to the background in books, so he inserts himself into the story of Little Red Riding Hood. Arnold assures the unseen author-artist that he won’t be sorry for including him, but he soon starts objecting to the familiar beats of the story: the foreboding woods (“Can I erase a tree or two? Bring in some more light...”), the hungry wolf (“I have this friend, Einer. He’s a muskrat and would be perfect as the wolf”), and the questionable plot points (as the wolf, Einer “doesn’t believe in solving problems by eating them”). As Arnold and his friends work their magic, Lodding (Painting Pepette) transforms this classic tale into a clever story about representation and inclusion; Arnold is an avid reader who never sees characters like him take center stage. Atkinson (Maxwell the Monkey Barber) emphasizes Arnold’s unfailing positivity in cheerfully colored, in-your-face digital illustrations that generate a mood of creative chaos. A strong readaloud and excellent starting point for conversations about representation, character, and story. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Jennifer Unter, Unter Agency.

June 1, 2017
Arnold the sheep desperately wants to be part of the story...with a few modifications.The narrator begins with a proper "Once upon a time," but after that, the tale quickly derails. Instead of a little girl in a red hood, a big fluffy sheep suddenly fills the page (as Arnold declares, "A Heidschnucke sheep to be exact"). The narrator is confused. Arnold explains that sheep are always relegated to the backgrounds of stories. (Case in point, "Little Bo Peep"). He wants to be the star this time. "Oh, all right, then," the narrator relents. But Arnold has some other suggestions as well. Could the story's setting not be in a dark wood? It's a little creepy. Plus, Arnold knows some fantastic friends to fill a few of the roles. Einer the muskrat would make a great wolf. And Frankie the warthog would be the perfect granny. Overzealous Arnold takes the story into his own cloven hooves, providing a wacky interpretation of the classic tale. Atkinson's interrupting speech bubbles, stately frames, faux corner page turns, and large pencil with erasure marks pack in every trope. Like so many of its ilk, the story takes a back seat to concept, resulting in what feels like 40 pages of setup. Both chortle-inducing and whiny at turns, this proves there's nothing new under the metafictive sun. (Picture book. 4-7)

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June 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 2-In this story within a story, an unnamed narrator attempts to tell the classic tale of "Little Red Riding Hood," only to be repeatedly interrupted by a sheep named Arnold. Frustrated that sheep are often in the background of books and not active participants, Arnold begs to be cast as Little Red Riding Hood. Following his initial success, he makes further suggestions about setting and dialogue and proposes that the other roles be reassigned to his animal friends. In one ponderous section, the plot visits uncharted territory as Arnold is redrawn and made thinner by a guest artist. Throughout, readers meet a muskrat and warthog, who are also looking for gigs as storybook characters, and, at last, a buffalo, who readers learn is the reteller Arnold has been interrupting. Arnold may be adorable, but his pun-heavy demands on the narrator are more annoying than cute, and the narrator's responses come across as tired and disinterested. Though the text falls flat, Atkinson's artwork is charming, and every sketch and brightly painted layered spread featuring allergy-laden Einer the muskrat is particularly delightful. VERDICT This is a fun lesson in storytelling with cheerful illustrations that may amuse kids, but ultimately the leading player's irritating behavior makes him an unsympathetic character. A quirky and over-the-top retelling.-Lauren Younger, New York Public Library

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2017
Preschool-K What at first seems like just another fairy tale takes an abrupt turn when a sheep named Arnold interrupts. Arnold wants desperately to be in the story ( We sheep are usually just in the background, grazing and minding our own business. Boring ), and eventually, the narrator relents. Gamely, he tries to get about telling the story of Little Red Riding Hood, but Arnold has his own ideas, interrupting to change the setting and cast his friends: Einer the muskrat as the wolf, and Frankie the warthog as Granny ( She'd be great. She's won a granny award ). But with so many wild cards in the mix, it isn't long before the story goes totally off the rails, much to the narrator's dismay. But Arnold got them into this messmaybe he can find a way out? Atkinson's brightly colored cartoon-style illustrations depict Arnold as a red-caped, energetic figureand as a slightly smaller sheep when he has an illustrator make a few cosmetic adjustments to his wool. A fun, meta, fractured fairy tale.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2018
A narrator begins the traditional story of a young girl in a red-hooded cape--but a sheep named Arnold interrupts, begging to be in the story. Wise-cracking Arnold co-opts the story, changing the setting, pulling friends in, and totally taking over. In a funny book's-end twist, the narrator begs to be in �cf2]Arnold's�cf1] story. Digital illustrations in hot colors emphasize the madcap meta goings-on.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)