There’s a Wolf at the Door: Five Classic Tales Retold by Zoe B. Alley, Illustrated by R.W. Alley
There’s a Wolf at the Door: Five Classic Tales Retold by Zoe B. Alley and illustrated by R.W. Alley is the cutest little graphic novel. Okay, I lie. The book is something like 12×18 inches. Huge. I call it little because it’s for little people, around ages four to eight. There’s a Wolf at the Door is the retelling of five classic tales: The Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing and The Wolf and the Seven Little Goslings. As you probably noticed, the recurring theme in all of these tales is the wolf.
Each story is connected and flows together as the wolf is trying to desperately come up with his next meal. This impeccably dressed wolf, just can’t seem to catch a break when he’s outwitted by the pigs, attacked by the sheep, and declothed by little red riding hood (who’s better known as Rhonda). Kids who are familiar with the original stories will love the new story twists and those who aren’t will fall in love with the illustrations. In the chapter about the boy who cried wolf, I got a kick out of one of the townsfolk who came running each time the boy cried wolf in various states of getting dressed for the day. In a towel straight out of the shower and next with a blow dryer.
There’s a Wolf at the Door is a great book to introduce young readers to the graphic novel format, fables, and the classic stories that we grew up with. I haven’t tried reading it to my three year-old. It is quite long with a decent amount of text. I wouldn’t want to read the whole thing in one sitting as a bedtime story. You’ll probably be there for awhile. But the chapters make for good stopping points as long as you don’t wait to long to pick it back up again, or else children might not see how the stories are connected. Overall, I enjoyed this new take on these classic tales.
R.W Alley website.
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Category: Book Reviews, Fiction, Picture & Board Books
Tags: A-D Author, children's literature book club selection, Cybils finalist, fable, female author, Fiction, graphic novel, published 2008, Q-T Title
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I liked the artwork and how the stories were linked together but I found the typed dialog distracting. It would have looked better hand inked.
on April 2nd, 2009 at 11:46 pmI’m really intrigued by the idea that the author linked all of the wolf fairy tales, I may have to check this out.
on April 3rd, 2009 at 8:22 amWe checked this out of the library a few weeks back, and it quickly became one of our favorites. It was so much fun to read aloud to the girls (we didn’t mind taking the time at bedtime, just so you know…). They really liked how the tales led one to the other, and seeing characters from earlier tales pop up. It’s one of the ones that I really wouldn’t mind having a copy of.
on April 3rd, 2009 at 8:32 amI read this earlier this year and loved it! I’m glad you did too. I read it to my older kids (ages 5, 7, and 9) but not the baby who’s 3. The 3 year old did like looking at the pictures. Great review!
on April 3rd, 2009 at 9:47 amThis sounds cute! I will have to keep my eyes open for it.
on April 3rd, 2009 at 10:39 amThat sounds pretty cool. Your description reminded me a little of that movie Hoodwinked. It was like Little Red Riding Hood, but funnier. Except that was only the one fairy tale.
on April 3rd, 2009 at 12:49 pmHow cute! I’m going to have to look for tihs one. I simply love retold fairy tales!
on April 4th, 2009 at 3:41 ampussreboots – After I read your review and comment, I went back and looked at it. While I didn’t notice it the first time around, the second time I wondered how I missed it. You make an excellent point.
Jen – It was clever.
Melissa – Mine is a library copy too. I wouldn’t mind owning it either. Good to know it’s not to long for your girls at night. My boys are at the age where they have short attention spans.
Vasilly – Glad you and your kids enjoyed it so much!
Kailana – Do! It’s worth the read.
amy BTW M – Hoodwinked had such potential to be a great movie! It was okay, but could have been better. But yeah, it’s kinda like that.
Alyssa – I love how he spinned each of the stories. Definitely keep your eyes out for it.
on April 5th, 2009 at 11:03 pmI’ll probably have to get it for myself. My younger nephews will not stay still long enough for me to read to them.
on April 12th, 2009 at 9:36 pm