Revisioning Red Riding Hood Around the World: An Anthology of International Retellings by Sandra L. Beckett (review)

As the title suggests, various interpretations and retellings of Little Red Riding Hood serve as the foundation for this anthology by noted critic and LRRH expert Beckett, but this scholarly exploration of the classic folktale also serves as a fascinating primer in children’s literature published outside the U.S., both historically and currently. An introduction explains the book’s conceptual organization: rather than looking at the stories chronologically or geographically, Beckett groups the titles around seven themes, moving from the more traditional interpretation of the story as a cautionary tale about the vulnerability of children (specifically girls) to more exploratory retellings that address the perspective of the wolf or the agency of the child. The thematic structure emphasizes the intersectionality of the various tropes and motifs across geographical borders and points toward the universality of some of the story’s elements while respecting the influences of specific cultures. The full translated texts of the short stories or poems are reproduced here, while longer retellings are represented by substantive excerpts. The selected stories represent a good chunk of the globe, from Chile to France to Korea and much in between; not all of the revisions are specifically categorized as children’s literature (and a few are categorically adult), but Beckett makes the case that stories for “all ages” tend to be more common on the global stage. Each retelling is accompanied by an introduction to the author, an overview of some of their other works, their place in the international canon, along with a more scholarly examination of the specific tale. The result is an academic exercise that fulfills two significant purposes: it offers a critical lens through which to view the stories, and it provides an opportunity to engage with international works that a U.S. audience might otherwise not see. This has obvious value to children’s literature and folktale scholars, but the stories might also make for excellent storytelling fodder.