Little Red Riding Hood By: Trina Hyman

Throughout my student teaching experience, I was asked to formulate a lesson integrating multiple subjects.  I used this Caldecott Honor book along with other versions of "Little Red Riding Hood" to stress the similarities and differences between cultural versions.  This was a great resource to compare with other cultural versions.

Little Red Riding Hood

Author: Trina Hyman - Trina Hyman's creative career began with her studies at the Philadelphia Museum College of Art.  After finishing her work there and moving to Sweden with her husband,  Trina Hyman got her first chance as an illustrator from a writer named Astrid Lindgren.  Upon returning to the United States, Trina Hyman worked at Little Brown and Company in Boston, MA.  As Hyman's career continued, she worked as chief artist for the children's magazine "Cricket".  Eventually, Trine Hyman moved in with her daughter where she passed away.  Hyman is famously known for her artistic work in over 150 books.  Trina Hyman Biography

Genre: Nonfiction

Grade Level: K - 2

Theme/Skill: Comparison of Folktales

Brief Synopsis: As the folktale goes, Little Red Riding Hood is sent to her grandma’s house to deliver treats since she is sick.  Along the way, she gets distracted and ends up talking to Wolf.  Wolf finds out where Little Red Riding Hood is going and beats her there.  He eats her grandmother and when Little Red Riding Hood arrives, he eats her as well.  Luckily, a huntsman notices something isn’t like usual and kills the Wolf to save the grandmother and Little Red Riding Hood.

Pre-Reading Activity: Who has heard the story of Little Red Riding Hood before?  What is a folktale?  What other stories have you heard that you think are folktales?  Folktales are legendary stories that are told over and over again. Over time, details of the story change.  As a class, brainstorm a list of famous folktales and see if the students can tell them or parts of them to the class.  This will emphasize the popularity of folktales and the different versions told.

Post-Reading Activity: Did Little Red Riding Hood listen to her mother?  What safety tips would your parents tell you on an adventure like this?  How would you have helped Little Red Riding Hood get to her grandmother’s safely?  Find a theatrical version of Little Red Riding Hood, assign various students to the different characters and have them act out the story.  If costumes are available, use them as well.  Since there will most likely be more students than parts, we may have to split into groups.  

Hyman, T. (1983) Little Red Riding Hood. New York: Holiday House. Grades K – 2.