English / Ireland
A Dublin fairytale
Colton, Nicola
(text/illus.)
Dublin: The O’Brien Press, 2015. – [32] p.
ISBN 978-1-84717-774-2
Fairy tale | Magic | Picture book | Dublin | Little Red Riding Hood
Reading age: 3+
White Ravens issue: 2016
Irish illustrator Nicola Colton’s first picture book is an Irish version of Little Red Riding Hood. The witty tale is set in a parallel-world Dublin that is infused with magical characters. On her way to her (witch-)granny’s house, little Fiona – clad in her favourite red raincoat – encounters a giant, a monster, and a dragon. Luckily enough, they all turn out to be far less dangerous than anticipated and gladly come to her rescue when she is attacked by the sly wolf, who had secretly followed her on his red bike. In the end, they all sit down together for a yummy slice of cake and a mug of witches’ brew. Colton’s simple, repetitive text draws small readers into Fiona’s adventures. The double-spread stylised pictures in warm colours feature several of Dublin’s famous landmarks (some slightly twisted), which turn the story into an entertaining mixture of modern and realistic vs. timeless and magical.