Category: #Bookexcursion

About the Book: Title: It’s Not Little Red Riding Hood Author:  Josh Funk Illustrator: Edwardian Taylor Pub. Date:  October 27, 2020

Beagles & Books is thrilled to be part of the blog tour for It’s Not Little Red Riding Hood.  Special thanks to Two Lions Publishing and Barbara Fisch of Blue Slip Media for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: The amazing duo, Josh Funk and Edwardian Taylor, are back with their third (and hopefully, not last) installment in the It’s Not a Fairytale series featuring Little Red Riding Hood. Like Jack, Gretel, and Hansel (#girlpower Gretel), Red does questions some of the narrator’s directions remarking “You’re sending a child carrying a giant basket, into the woods, ALL ALONE? After the narrator answers with a simple yes, Red agrees stating “You’re in charge!”  But I wonder for how long? Well, not long because on the very next page spread, Red is now wearing her little sister’s blue cape to Grandma’s. And on her way to Grandma’s, she meets up with the Big Bad Wolf…wait…I mean..Captain Hook.  It turns out the the wolf is sick which does not make the narrator happy. Still trusting, Red continues following the narrator’s directions as she journeys to Grandma’s but Captain Hook is not feeling it.  “I did not agree to people–eatin,” he says. Pirates are all about stealing loot which is why he continually conflicts with the narrator.  When Red finally gets to Grandma’s, you can imagine the antics that ensue especially when Pinocchio fills in for the woodsman to rescue her from the Big Bad Wolf…oops..Captain Hook.  And it’s NOT a Funk & Taylor fairy tale unless a character opens a restaurant serving fairy tale creatures. I am always smiling and laughing after reading Funk and Taylor’s hilarious parody of a classic fairy tale.  One of the highlights was the lively exchanges between Red and the narrator because he always told the truth and while she questioned his directions, she was still willing to follow them. What I also loved about It’s Not Little Red Riding Hood is the decision to have other fairy tale characters stand in the original characters.  Captain Hook acted like himself, not the Wolf which made the story more humorous and a more fun read aloud. Last November, the second grade class I read to for #classroombookaday, had the immense pleasure of hosting Josh Funk for an author visit where we not only got a sneak peek at It’s Not Little Red Riding Hood, but also Josh, the classroom teacher, and me engaged in a reader’s theater of taking on the voices of the narrator, Red, and Captain Hook which was such fun.  I mean, come on…who doesn’t want to talk like a pirate? I am in awe of Funk’s witty and playful writing and Taylor’s bold and engaging illustrations literally leap off the page.  And kids love searching for cameos of other fairy tale characters throughout the book.  Kids always ask which fairy tale will be next in the series as do I.  My fingers (and Bella’s paws) are crossed that there are more It’s Not a Fairytale adventures to come!

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About the Author: Like the characters in his books, Josh Funk doesn’t like being told how stories should go—so he writes his own. He is the author of many popular picture books, including the popular Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, illustrated by Brendan Kearney, and the It’s Not a Fairytale books, illustrated by Edwardian Taylor. He lives in New England with his family. Learn more about him at www.joshfunkbooks.com, Twitter: @joshfunkbooks Instagram: @joshfunkbooks

About the Illustrator:Edwardian Taylor is the illustrator of multiple children’s books, including Race!, written by Sue Fliess; the Toy Academy chapter books, written by Brian Lynch; and the It’s Not a Fairytale books, written by Josh Funk. He lives in Texas with his partner and their four dogs.  Learn more about him at www.edwardiantaylor.com Twitter: @edwardiantaylor, Instagram: edwardiantaylor Tumblr: Edwardian Taylor

It’s Not a Fairytale Series Giveaway! Two Lions is offering all three books in the It’s Not a Fairytale series–It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk, It’s Not Hansel and Gretel, and It’s Not Little Red Riding Hood  to one lucky winner (U.S. addresses).  Giveaway begins Friday, October 23, 2020 and ends at 10 p.m. Friday, October 30, 2020.  You can enter below or retweet my Twitter post.