OOPS!: A Preston Pig Story

A child doesn't have to be schooled in post-modernism to get a kick out of a self-reflexive narrative. ""These stories would be pretty boring if I was good, wouldn't they?"" asks the lanky, bad Mr. Wolf in McNaughton's latest Preston Pig story, a fairly faithful version of Little Red Riding Hood with Preston cast in the title role. The central joke is that Mr. Wolf can't recall his own role: ""Hmm... red hood, basket of food, Granny's house? That reminds me of a story, but which one?"" While he racks his brain, he must suffer through the havoc wreaked by the always unwitting Preston (for example, while Mr. Wolf is trying to trap Preston with ""The old `Dig-A-Deep-Pit' dodge,"" the pig blithely skips across his head). Older children especially should appreciate McNaughton's smart-aleck humor (Mr. Wolf has been banned from the school grounds for ""snacking on the students""), while the younger members of the target audience are just as likely to enjoy his over-the-top cartoon style emphasizing Mr. Wolf's snarly snout, buggy eyes and various physical travails. Ages 3-8. (Sept.)