Fairy Tale Theater Books: A Series that Adapts Classic Fairy Tales into Plays
Little Red Riding Hood (Fairy Tale Theater Books)
If you are looking for a fun and creative way to introduce your children to one of the most famous fairy tales of all time, you should check out Little Red Riding Hood (Fairy Tale Theater Books). This book is part of a series that adapts classic fairy tales into simple plays that children can perform with their friends or family. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about this book and why you should read it with your kids.
Little Red Riding Hood (Fairy Tale Theater Books)
What is Fairy Tale Theater?
Fairy Tale Theater is a series of books that was created by Monica Bosom and Carme Peris, two Spanish authors and illustrators who love fairy tales. They wanted to make fairy tales more accessible and enjoyable for children by turning them into plays that they can act out themselves.
History and background
The first Fairy Tale Theater book was published in 1998 by Barrons Juveniles, an American publisher that specializes in children's books. Since then, the series has grown to include more than 20 titles, covering fairy tales from different countries and cultures. Some of the most popular books in the series are Cinderella, The Three Little Pigs, Jack and the Beanstalk, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, The Ugly Duckling, Rapunzel, The Princess and the Pea, Hansel and Gretel, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Frog Prince, Puss in Boots, The Pied Piper of Hamelin, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, Rumpelstiltskin, The Elves and the Shoemaker, Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and of course, Little Red Riding Hood.
Features and benefits
Each Fairy Tale Theater book has the following features and benefits for children:
It has a hardcover and a spiral binding that make it easy to open and flip through the pages.
It has colorful and charming illustrations that capture the mood and atmosphere of the fairy tale.
It has a simple and engaging script that uses everyday language and dialogue that children can relate to.
It has suggestions for costumes, props, scenery, sound effects, and music that children can use to enhance their performance.
It has a recipe for a delicious snack that children can make and enjoy after the play.
It has designs for finger puppets that children can cut out and use to act out the story.
With these features and benefits, Fairy Tale Theater books can help children:
Develop their reading, speaking, listening, and writing skills.
Improve their imagination, creativity, and expression.
Learn about different cultures, traditions, and values.
Have fun with their friends, family, and classmates.
What is Little Red Riding Hood?
Little Red Riding Hood is one of the most well-known fairy tales in the world. It tells the story of a young girl who meets a cunning wolf on her way to visit her grandmother. The wolf tricks her into leaving the path and then eats her grandmother and disguises himself as her. When the girl arrives at her grandmother's house, she realizes that something is wrong and tries to escape from the wolf. Depending on the version of the story, she is either rescued by a woodcutter or a hunter, or she manages to outsmart the wolf herself.
Origin and variants
The origin of Little Red Riding Hood is not clear, but it is believed that it has roots in several pre-17th century European folk tales. The first written version of the story was published by Charles Perrault in 1697 in his collection Tales and Stories of the Past with Morals. In this version, the girl is named after her red hooded cape that she wears, and the story ends with the wolf eating her. Perrault also added a moral lesson at the end, warning young girls to beware of strangers who might have bad intentions.
The most famous version of the story today is the one written by the Brothers Grimm in 1812 in their collection Children's and Household Tales. In this version, the girl is called Little Red Cap, and the story has a happy ending. A woodcutter or a hunter comes to the rescue and cuts open the sleeping wolf. Little Red Cap and her grandmother emerge unharmed. They then fill the wolf's body with heavy stones, causing him to die when he wakes up. The Grimm's version also added another episode, in which Little Red Cap meets another wolf on her way back home, but this time she is more cautious and avoids his tricks.
There are many other variants of Little Red Riding Hood in different countries and cultures. For example, in Italy there is a version called The False Grandmother, in which the girl notices that her grandmother has hairy arms, long nails, big teeth, and a mouth full of blood. In China there is a version called The Tiger Grandmother, in which the girl is saved by her dog who alerts her father. In Japan there is a version called The Wolf's Promise, in which the girl makes a deal with the wolf to spare her life if she brings him food every day.
Plot and characters
The plot of Little Red Riding Hood is simple and straightforward. The main characters are:
Little Red Riding Hood: A young girl who lives with her mother in a village near the forest. She is kind, innocent, naive, and curious. She likes to wear a red hooded cape or cap that her grandmother made for her.
The Wolf: A sly and greedy animal who lives in the forest. He is cunning, deceptive, persuasive, and hungry. He wants to eat Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother.
The Grandmother: An old woman who lives alone in a cottage in the forest. She is sickly, frail, loving, and trusting. She loves Little Red Riding Hood very much and waits for her visit.
He saves Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother from the wolf.
The plot of Little Red Riding Hood is as follows:
Little Red Riding Hood's mother tells her to go and visit her grandmother, who is ill and lives in the forest. She gives her a basket of wine and cake to take to her.
Little Red Riding Hood puts on her red hooded cape or cap and sets off for her grandmother's house. She promises her mother to stay on the path and not talk to strangers.
On her way, she meets a wolf who asks her where she is going. She tells him that she is going to see her grandmother who lives in a cottage in the forest.
The wolf thinks to himself that he can eat both the girl and the grandmother. He tells Little Red Riding Hood that she should pick some flowers for her grandmother, as they are very beautiful and fragrant.
Little Red Riding Hood thinks that this is a good idea and leaves the path to gather some flowers. She forgets her promise to her mother and does not notice that the wolf is running ahead of her.
The wolf reaches the grandmother's house and knocks on the door. He pretends to be Little Red Riding Hood and asks to come in. The grandmother, who is hard of hearing, tells him to lift the latch and enter.
The wolf goes inside and eats the grandmother in one gulp. He then puts on her clothes and nightcap and gets into her bed. He waits for Little Red Riding Hood to arrive.
Little Red Riding Hood finally reaches the grandmother's house and knocks on the door. She hears a gruff voice telling her to lift the latch and enter. She thinks that her grandmother has a cold.
Little Red Riding Hood goes inside and sees the wolf lying in the bed, disguised as her grandmother. She is surprised by how strange her grandmother looks and says: "What a deep voice you have!", "What big eyes you have!", "What big ears you have!", "What big hands you have!", and "What a big mouth you have!"
The wolf replies to each question with: "The better to greet you with", "The better to see you with", "The better to hear you with", "The better to hug you with", and "The better to eat you with". He then jumps out of the bed and swallows Little Red Riding Hood whole.
The wolf feels satisfied and falls asleep, snoring loudly. A woodcutter or a hunter who is passing by hears the noise and decides to check on the grandmother. He sees the wolf sleeping in the bed and realizes what has happened.
The woodcutter or the hunter takes an axe or a knife and cuts open the wolf's belly. He frees Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother, who are still alive. They thank him for saving them.
They then fill the wolf's belly with heavy stones and sew it back up. When the wolf wakes up, he feels thirsty and tries to get up. But the stones weigh him down and he falls dead.
Little Red Riding Hood, her grandmother, and the woodcutter or the hunter celebrate their victory. Little Red Riding Hood promises to never leave the path or talk to strangers again.
Themes and morals
Little Red Riding Hood is a fairy tale that explores various themes and morals, such as:
The dangers of naivety and disobedience: Little Red Riding Hood is naive and disobedient, as she trusts a stranger and leaves the path that her mother told her to follow. This leads her into trouble, as she becomes an easy prey for the wolf.
The importance of caution and vigilance: Little Red Riding Hood is not cautious or vigilant, as she does not notice that the wolf is following her or that he has eaten her grandmother. She also fails to recognize that he is not her grandmother, despite his obvious differences.
The power of cunning and deception: The wolf is cunning and deceptive, as he uses his words and actions to trick Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother. He pretends to be friendly, helpful, concerned, and innocent, while hiding his true intentions.
The value of bravery and help: The woodcutter or the hunter is brave and helpful, as he intervenes to save Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother from the wolf. He uses his strength and skill to defeat the wolf and rescue the victims.
The moral of the story is that children should listen to their parents and elders, and not trust strangers or wander off the path. They should also be careful and observant, and not let themselves be fooled by appearances or words. They should also seek help when they are in danger, and be grateful to those who help them.
How does Fairy Tale Theater adapt Little Red Riding Hood?
Fairy Tale Theater adapts Little Red Riding Hood into a play that children can perform with their friends or family. The book has three main parts: illustrations and design, script and performance, and extras and activities.
Illustrations and design
The book has colorful and charming illustrations that capture the mood and atmosphere of the fairy tale. The illustrations are done by Carme Peris, who is also the co-author of the book. She uses a cartoon-like style that makes the characters and scenes look lively and expressive. She also uses bright and contrasting colors that make the images stand out and attract the eye.
The book also has a spiral binding that makes it easy to open and flip through the pages. The book is divided into two sections: one for the script and one for the extras and activities. The script section has a landscape orientation, while the extras and activities section has a portrait orientation. This makes it easier to read and use the book.
Script and performance
The book has a simple and engaging script that uses everyday language and dialogue that children can relate to. The script is written by Monica Bosom, who is also the co-author of the book. She uses humor, drama, and interactivity to make the story more appealing and enjoyable for children.
The script has four characters: Little Red Riding Hood, The Wolf, The Grandmother, and The Woodcutter or The Hunter. Each character has a different font color and size that make it easy to identify them. The script also has stage directions that tell the actors what to do, say, or wear. The script follows the plot of the Grimm's version of the story, with some minor changes and additions.
The book also has suggestions for costumes, props, scenery, sound effects, and music that children can use to enhance their performance. The suggestions are simple, creative, and affordable, using items that children can find at home or in school. For example, for Little Red Riding Hood's costume, children can use a red hooded cape or cap, a dress or skirt, a basket with wine and cake, and some flowers. For The Wolf's costume, children can use a gray or brown sweater or jacket, a gray or brown hat with ears, a tail made from a scarf or a sock, some face paint or makeup, and some fake teeth or claws.
Extras and activities
The book has extras and activities that children can enjoy after performing the play. The extras include:
A recipe for a delicious snack that children can make and enjoy after the play. The recipe is for apple pie with whipped cream, which is easy to make and tasty to eat.
Designs for finger puppets that children can cut out and use to act out the story. The designs are for Little Red Riding Hood, The Wolf, The Grandmother, and The Woodcutter or The Hunter. The designs are colorful and cute, and have holes for the fingers.
The activities include:
A crossword puzzle that tests children's knowledge of the story. The puzzle has clues for words related to the characters, events, or items in the story.
A word search puzzle that challenges children to find words related to the story. The puzzle has a list of words that are hidden in a grid of letters.
A maze puzzle that requires children to help Little Red Riding Hood find her way to her grandmother's house. The puzzle has a path with forks and dead ends that children have to navigate through.
A coloring page that allows children to express their creativity by coloring an illustration of Little Red Riding Hood meeting The Wolf in the forest. The illustration is black-and-white and has details that children can fill in with colors.
Why should you read Little Red Riding Hood (Fairy Tale Theater Books)?
You should read Little Red Riding Hood (Fairy Tale Theater Books) because it is a fun and creative way to introduce your children to one of the most famous fairy tales of all time. This book has many benefits for your children, such as:
Educational value
This book can help your children learn about literature, culture, and creativity. By reading and performing this book, your children can:
Improve their reading, speaking, listening, and writing skills. They can practice their pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension by reading the script and the extras. They can also practice their expression, communication, and collaboration by speaking the dialogue and working with other actors.
Learn about different cultures, traditions, and values. They can discover the origin and variants of the fairy tale and how it reflects the beliefs and customs of different people. They can also compare and contrast the fairy tale with other stories that they know or have read.
Develop their imagination, creativity, and expression. They can use their imagination to visualize the characters and scenes of the story. They can also use their creativity to make their own costumes, props, scenery, sound effects, and music. They can also use their expression to convey the emotions and personalities of the characters.
Entertainment value
This book can entertain your children with its humor, drama, and interactivity. By reading and performing this book, your children can:
Enjoy the humor of the story. They can laugh at the funny dialogue and situations that occur in the story. They can also make jokes and add their own humor to the script.
Experience the drama of the story. They can feel the suspense, tension, and excitement that build up in the story. They can also empathize with the characters and their feelings.
Participate in the interactivity of the story. They can interact with other actors and audience members by asking questions, giving feedback, or joining in the action. They can also interact with the extras and activities by making snacks, finger puppets, puzzles, or coloring pages.
Emotional value
This book can inspire your children with its messages, characters, and emotions. By reading and performing this book, your children can:
Learn from the messages of the story. They can understand the themes and morals of the story and how they apply to their own lives. They can also reflect on their own values and choices.
Relate to the characters of the story. They can identify with the characters and their traits and motivations. They can also admire or criticize the characters and their actions.
Express their emotions through the story. They can feel happy, sad, angry, scared, or surprised by what happens in the story. They can also share their emotions with other actors and audience members.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Little Red Riding Hood (Fairy Tale Theater Books) is a great book for children who love fairy tales and theater. It is a fun and creative way to introduce them to one of the most famous fairy tales of all time. It has many features and benefits that can help them learn, entertain them, and inspire them. It is a book that they can read and perform with their friends or family, and enjoy for a long time.
If you are interested in buying this book, you can find it on Amazon.com or other online retailers. You can also check out other books in the Fairy Tale Theater series that adapt other classic fairy tales into plays that children can perform.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about Little Red Riding Hood (Fairy Tale Theater Books):
What age group is this book suitable for?This book is suitable for children between 6 to 8 years old who are interested in fairy tales and theater. However, younger or older children may also enjoy this book depending on their reading level and preferences.
How long does it take to read or perform this book?This book has 32 pages that include the script and the extras. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to read or perform this book depending on how fast or slow you read or act.
How many actors do you need to perform this book?You need at least four actors to perform this book: one for Little Red Riding Hood, one for The Wolf, one for The Grandmother, and one for The Woodcutter or The Hunter. However, you can also have more actors if you want to assign different roles or share the roles among different actors.
What kind of costumes, props, scenery, sound effects, and music do you need to perform this book?You can use any kind of costumes, props, scenery, sound effects, and music that you like or have available to perform this book. The book has some suggestions that you can follow or modify