Little Red's Riding 'Hood

PreS-Gr 2—Little Red, a scooter with a lightning bolt stripe and baseball cap, enjoys riding around his 'hood. He sets off to help Granny Putt Putt who is feeling a bit run-down, when he meets notorious monster truck, Tank, whose villainous antics send Little Red straight into a dangerous trap. In typical fairy tale fashion, Tank speeds to the house of Little Red's grandmother, swallows her whole, and sets the stage for the arrival of Little Red. With an aurora of foreboding, Little Red describes the formidable appearance of Granny's headlights, wheels, and grille, until Tank roars out his dastardly plan. "ALL THE BETTER TO EAT YOU WITH, SCOOTER BOY!" A high speed chase brings about a quick turn of events: Grandma flies out of Tank's hood, Tank is transformed into a dejected traffic robot, and Little Red announces his status as the "NEW King of the Road!" The use of vehicles as characters may rev up the readership, though dialogue occasionally feels forced. "Well, burn my rubber! That oil's too thin and those plugs won't spark!" The town of Vroomville, known as the City with Drive, is filled with bright characters.