The Story of Little Red Riding Hood

Bing (Lincoln Shot) works his potent visual magic on this old tale. There's little hint of trouble in the first spreads: Red Riding Hood, modeled on one of Bing's children, embodies blonde innocence, and the large, naturalistic wolf accosts her in a seductively idyllic forest shot through with sunbeams. Red Riding Hood is seen approaching the door of Grandmother's house from above, as if through a security camera, but little else foreshadows the ferocity of the wolf's attack as fangs snap at the girl and Grandmother's nightstand candle and books fly toward viewers. Even at the point of the hunter's gun, the sleeping wolf's image unsettles; he lies belly up, eyes closed, bathed in blue light. On the last four pages, Bing offers a second version, illustrated in black and white ("Little Red Riding Hood was on her guard and kept right on going"), while a third, Perrault's tale (which offers no happy ending), appears as a pamphlet at the very end. Romantics may prefer Gennady Spirin's recent retelling, but Bing drives home Perrault's moral that "...tame wolves/ Are the most dangerous of all." Ages 5–up. (Oct.)