13 Creative Little Red Riding Hood Retellings

Check out these darling variations and retelling picture books of the Brothers Grimms fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood!

The original fairy tale written by the Brothers Grimm is a story about a girl named Red who wears a red hooded cape. Her mama sends her to visit her sick grandmother with food and reminds Red not to leave the path. When Red arrives at the house, she’s tricked by a wolf who pretends to be her grandmother. In some versions, the wolf eats the grandmother, but in more recent versions, the grandmother is stuffed in the closet.

When Little Red arrives at her granny’s house, she notices her granny looks different. She says, “What big eyes you have, what big ears you have, and what a big mouth you have.”

When the woodcutter arrives at the house, he cuts the grandmother out of the wolf or chases the wolf off.

In the different Little Red Riding Hood variations below, you’ll find heroic Reds, a dragon, a dog, and a lion. Which version will be your favorite?

Creative Little Red Riding Hood Retellings

Little Red Riding Hood illustrated by Ed Bryan
I think you’ll applaud this updated short version of Little Red Riding Hood. Because Red is the one who saves herself and makes the wolf run far, far away. Go, Red! The illustrations feel fresh and modern, making this picture book an excellent choice for younger readers.

Red by Jed Alexander
In a wordless picture book, this little Red Riding Hood travels through a forest to her sick grandmother’s house. As she does, you’ll see animals carrying gifts. Can you predict why? It’s a party at her grandmother’s house! With a friendly big bad wolf. Gorgeous illustrations.

Little Red Rhyming Hood by Sue Fliess, illustrated by Petros Bouloubasis
In this clever retelling of the familiar fairy tale, a rhyming girl named Red is teased constantly by a boy she calls Wolf. When he unexpectedly gets Red’s ability to ONLY rhyme, they team up to compete in a poetry contest and soon become friends.

The Cat, the Dog, Little Red, The Exploding Eggs, the Wolf, and Grandma by Diane and Christyan Fox
Cat begins to read the story of the fairy tale “Little Red Riding Hood” to Dog, but she doesn’t get far before Dog interrupts with his ever-so-interesting thoughts about what might happen next. Cat is not amused. .. Dog just can’t help himself, though. Your kids will love Dog and Cat — and their unique and different personalities. Even better, use this book to teach asking questions and writing a story.

Little Red Riding Hood and the Dragon by Ying Chang Compestine, illustrated by Joy Ang
Little Red and her grandmother get swallowed by a dragon! But Little Red thinks of antics inside the dragon’s stomach like Kung-fu and the yo-yo to get the dragon to gag them up. A fun retelling of a famous fairy tale for kids set near China’s Great Wall.

Ninja Red Riding Hood by Corey Rosen Schwartz, illustrated by Dan Santat
Wolf can’t catch any dinner because when he tries to eat Red Riding Hood, she fights back using her ninja skills, and so does her Gran. The wolf decides to give up eating people and studies yoga instead. Kids will love this clever twist on this traditional Red Riding Hood tale. Also read: Hansel and Gretel Ninja Chicks.

Little Red Reading Hood and the Misread Wolf by Troy Wilson, illustrated by Ilaria Campana
Red likes to read, and she uses the knowledge from her books on how to handle life’s situations. For example, when you encounter a wolf, maintain eye contact and slowly back away! And in this retold fairy tale, Red reads a story to Grandma, Wolf, and the Woodcutter.

Little Red Writing by Joan Holub, illustrated by Melissa Sweet
This brave red pencil is so excited to write a story… an exciting story. Laugh-out-loud humor rich with wonderful words and exquisite illustrations shows that the writing process is not as easy as it seems. But it’s worth it in the end. Delightful parallels to Little Red Riding Hood abound — watch out for that Wolf 300 pencil sharpener!

It’s Not Little Red Riding Hood by Josh Funk, illustrated by Edwardian Taylor
Little Red is mostly trying to cooperate with the narrator, but the other characters don’t cooperate and they keep messing things up. Why are Captain Hook and Pinocchio in this story anyway?

Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion by Alex T. Smith
This story set in Africa with captivating illustrations is about Little Red meets the Very Hungry Lion on her way to visit her sick auntie. Little Red braids his mane and suggests the Lion asks for food instead of eating her. A surprising plot twist!

Little Red Gliding Hood by Tara Lazar, illustrated by Troy Cummings
Little Red is an ice skater in need of a partner in this fractured fairy tale. She’s determined to win the pairs skating competition and win a new pair of skates. Will Wolf be the perfect partner?

Bonus Middle Grade Little Red Riding Hood Stories

Little Red Riding Hood by Eric Braun
ages 8 – 12
Not only is this a fractured fairy tale, but it’s also a choose your own adventure story. You’ll find three new versions of this classic fairy tale ending in chilling, surprising, or disastrous results.

Red: The (Fairly) True Tale of Red Riding Hood by Liesl Shurtiff
ages 9 – 12
I haven’t read this yet, but I’ve liked Shurtiff’s other books. In this retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, Red isn’t afraid of the Wolf, but she is afraid of magic. When her granny gets sick, with the help of a girl named Goldie, Red goes on a quest to find a cure…and hopes it’s not magic that will help. Making things even harder, the brave girls are stalked by a wolf and a huntsman.