Beware of the Storybook Wolves

I may actually enjoyed this book *more* than my daughter. It's along the lines of Seseame Street where a few adult jokes are thrown in so that the parents don't get bored. I can't say if it's "her best work", or not, but it got high marks from my daughter (4 yrs old). It's funny and silly and for a girl who's already into Princesses, the fact that the fairy godmother shows up and one of the wolves ends up going to Cinderella's ball instead of Cinderella made a connection with her. The boy really thinks on his feet when confronted with two slobbering, hungry wolves. If you've ever seen Charlie & Lola on the Disney Channel, you'll be very happy with the illustrations. As the story has already been 'nutshelled' in other reviews, I won't go into detail. Suffice it to say, it is a very entertaining story and one that I have given as a gift to other girls (would probably do well with a boy, too, but the cinderella reference makes it lean to a girl, I think.) I highly recommend this for age 3 and up (oh, you can read it to a 2 yr old and earlier, but I think by 3 they "get" what's going on.)

Lauren Child is a major star in my household. My kiddos adore her writing and illustrations. The story is both inventive and delightful. I feel the pages keeps my six year old on her toes reading the various whimsical fonts that never seem to be boring. This is a great addition to "Beware of the Storybook Wolves." As much as I love the Charlie and Lola series, these older books are a welcome change to our ever-growing Lauren Child collection.

Like the Jeff Daniels' character in Woody Allen's "Purple Rose of Cairo," the wolf steps out of a copy of "LIttle Red Riding Hood" that Herb's mother has been reading to him. Herb has a love/hate relationship with wolves; like many small fry, he's intrigued with what frightens him. While he can stomach a pictue of a wolf with a pig's tail sticking out of its mouth, he asks his mom to take "Little Red Riding Hood" with her, "because there's a wolf in it, of course." Fortunately, Ms. Child has the mother immediately reassuring Herb, "Herb's mother would smile to herself because she knew that storybook wolves are not at all dangerous. That would be it, except for that convenient plot device, the maybe-dream (often paired, as it is here, with the one-eyebrow-raised, "Or was it a dream?"). Herb is suddenly confronted with two hungry wolves from his story book, one apparently a novice: "Ooh, can I have his pink toes? They look just like piglets," said Little Wolf. And he tried to lick his chops, but he wasn't very good at it and just ended up dribbling on the carpet. Herb tricks the wolves with the nick-of-time assistance of a more benevolent character he shakes out of a different fairy tale. As a result, Little Wolf is accidentally inserted into "Cinderella," Big Wolf becomes a caterpillar, and Herb finally gets to sleep--after making sure that no one else can get out of his books. SPOILER AHEAD! The "was it really a dream" suggestion takes place inside, rather than outside, "Little Red Riding Hood." The next time, Herb and his mom read it, there's no wolf there!--"just a tiny caterpillar trying with all his might to terrify a little girl..." Lauren Child has written a funny and imaginative book, even if, at times, parts of it seemed a little too conveniently patched together. The wolves and the boy get realistic portrayals, and adults might want to check the gullibility levels of their young audiences so that, like Herb's mom, they're sure their storybook villains can't magically harm them. Child illustrates with her trademark stylings: Sketchily drawn lines, an emphasis on facial expressions, ornate design, and wonderful collages that give some pictures a slightly skewed, 3-D effect. In other books, Child's text and pictures also play with familiar storylines, and there's a "Fractured Flickers" sensibility that those books share with 'Storybook Wolves.' While not her very best work, this one will be a winner with kids who like to turn fairy tales inside out.

My daughter discovered Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Book at the library and fell absolutely in love with it. This book is its precursor and really both books go together. The illustrations, the writing form and style are truly enchanting. The connections made between the stories is marvellous.

My kids adore this book. It is witty and imaginative and a whole lot of fun. It is probably not the easiest read for a beginning reader as the fonts change a lot

This is another great Lauren Child children's book. The illustrations are vivid and exciting, and the story line is interesting. Good quality book as well with heavy glossy pages.

Love how this book goes up and down and upside down!

I absolute love this book and can listen to it over and over again (like my kids). I say listen, because I was able to buy it with a CD read by Hugh Laurie (in his natural British accent). Laurie does a fabulous job with the voices, and makes this book one of the ones that I will keep, long after my children have outgrown it.

My favourite book which I read to all classes under the age of 9 as a supply teacher. Have even read it to 15 year olds at a special school and they enjoyed it as well.

der ganze buchaufbau lässt immer wieder staunen, man findet immer wieder was neues, die leserichtung links-->recht ist munter durcheinandergewirbelt wie in einer spielzeugkiste :)

This is another book by Lauren Child. She is an amazing author! Her stories are witty and illustrations are wonderful too. This story is about Herb, the boy whose book came to life - the wolves escape from his storybook! It's a fun story. Illustrations are wonderful too! Kids would love it!

My class of 8 year olds loved it. Well illustrated and original. Would recommend it to all , a good read to share.

An enjoyable book for bedtime reading Both my son and daughter enjoyed it which is something as my daughter only listens to 'girl stories'. But there's wolves and princesses so idal for everyone