Once Upon a Wild Wood

Author Chris Riddell, illustrated by Chris Riddell
Narrator Cassie Layton
Publisher Pan Macmillan
Run Time 10 minutes
Format Audio
Genre Children’s / Teenage fiction and true stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Action and adventure stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Humorous stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Traditional stories, Picture storybooks.

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What to expect

Once Upon a Wild Wood is a richly imagined story packed full of familiar fairy tale characters as you've never heard them before. A fabulously funny adventure, full of warmth and wit – this is Chris Riddell at his best!

Little Green Raincape is on her way to Rapunzel's party, deep in the wild woods. The way is long and dark, but Green is a smart girl. Smart enough to turn down apples offered by kindly old ladies and smart enough to turn down travel advice from helpful wolves . . .

Above all, Green is smart enough to solve a wealth of classic fairy tale problems – not least mend a lovelorn beast's broken heart.

Including Red Riding Hood, Thumbelina, Rapunzel, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, the Three Bears, the Seven Dwarfs – and many more – Once Upon a Wild Wood is a beautiful adventure for curious young readers.

Critics Review

A smart young heroine, playful storytelling full of wit and detail, and rich, layered pictures in his unique style
The Bookseller
Chris Riddell’s Once Upon a Wild Wood is an elegant subversion of the fairytale canon […] Riddell’s layered landscapes, full of sly detail, invite exploration.
Guardian
Riddell’s drawings lend old-fashioned enchantment to this thoroughly modern tale
Daily Telegraph
The details are joyous and the text is wryly witty. Supreme draughtsmanship and the chance for children to feel knowing make this book a winner.
Sunday Times
There’s extraordinary detail in the illustrations and, while children will enjoy spotting the familiar faces, the way in which Riddell subverts the original stories introduces a fresh take on age-old adventures, heroes and villains.
Mail Online
Former Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell weaves a wonderful fantasy adventure around some of the best loved fairy story characters in this hugely attractive and thoroughly entertaining picture story book.
Love Reading
A truly delightful book, with illustrations that will set children’s imaginations alight.
BookTrust's Great Books Guide
Riddell’s artwork is as lush and detailed as ever […] a must for lovers of fairy tales and happy endings!
INIS

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