{My Thoughts} – Amazing! I really enjoyed reading this book. The story and the illustrations go together incredibly well. The story is simple yet exceptional. The illustrations are incredible.

Little Red is a pencil that needs to write a story and to help her out the teacher gives her a basket with red words in it. This is a story about writing a story and it is also a story that is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. I have always enjoyed books and stories based on classic fairy-tales and this is a nice spin on it that makes it educational and fun.

This is a must have book for any teachers bookshelf! It doesn’t matter if you are homeschooling or in a traditional school setting, this book can be a fun addition to any classroom curriculum. I cannot wait to give this to my children for Christmas this year! ( )

Independent Reading Level: Grades 1st through 2nd grade
Awards: Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts Award (2014), SLJ Best Books of the Year (2013)

This was extremely overwhelming for me, as it had so much going on. It confused me so I know it would confuse a younger student.

This story was a disaster to read. It was structured horribly and gave me a headache about three pages in. I think it could be beneficial for some teachers to discuss plot structures and sequencing, but I would perfectly happy if I never had to open it again.

A yellow no. 2 pencil instructs her students on how to write a story:

Story Path
1. Idea, characters, setting
2. Trouble
3. Even bigger trouble
4. Fix the trouble

Little Red sets off to write her story, asking herself, "What would a brave pencil do?" Her teacher gives her a basket of words to use on her journey, and she eventually faces the villain in principal's clothing - the Wolf 3000 pencil sharpener!

At once a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and a template for how to write a story, this gets an A+. ( )