Look Out, He's Behind You! - Tony Bradman

۩۩۩ Introduction ۩۩۩

This book is a simple re-telling of the traditional tale of Little Red Riding Hood.

۩۩۩ The book ۩۩۩

The story begins on the front cover, where RRH informs the reader that she is going to see her grandmother and invites us to come along on her trip.

The first page introduces the characters: RRH, ...
...hiding behind a door that has a flap to open up.

The story follows RRH's trip to visit her grandmother. On each page, different animals are warning her by saying:
"Look out, he's behind you!"
But RRH just can't see him as he is hiding so cunningly, e.g. up in the apple tree, behind the reeds near the river, in the water trough for the horses…. However the reader can see him by lifting the flaps. All the while ... more

۩۩۩ Introduction ۩۩۩

This book is a simple re-telling of the traditional tale of Little Red Riding Hood.

۩۩۩ The book ۩۩۩

The story begins on the front cover, where RRH informs the reader that she is going to see her grandmother and invites us to come along on her trip.

The first page introduces the characters: RRH, grandmother, the woodcutter and the big bad wolf who is hiding behind a door that has a flap to open up.

The story follows RRH's trip to visit her grandmother. On each page, different animals are warning her by saying:
"Look out, he's behind you!"
But RRH just can't see him as he is hiding so cunningly, e.g. up in the apple tree, behind the reeds near the river, in the water trough for the horses…. However the reader can see him by lifting the flaps. All the while she just says "Where?"

At last she goes in to her grandma's cottage, with grandma tied up and the wolf coming through the door to get her. A fight ensues until the woodcutter comes along to save the day!

۩۩۩ Price ۩۩۩

The paperback version that I bought, ISBN: 0-7497-0024-6 was £3.99 way back in the early 90s! However on Amazon they are available from just 1p a bargain even if you take in to account P&P charges.

۩۩۩ Style, Format & Illustrations ۩۩۩

It is the style and format of the book that makes it so interesting for very young children. They like the idea that they can see the wolf by lifting the flaps but RRH can't see him and they often shout out to let her know where he is hiding!

The pictures are very busy with lots of flowers, plants, insects and animals along the country paths that she is walking along. The illustrator has managed to capture the eerie mood of the deep dark wood, without making it too scary which is good as it is pitched at just the right level for the 2+ audience.
The suggested reading level for this book is 4 - 8 but I have read this to younger and feel that it is a little too simple for the 5 to 6 + range

There is humour in some of the illustrations, e.g. when the wolf is hiding in the water trough, he is shown using a snorkel so that he can breathe under the water.

The main narrative section of the text is along the bottom of each page and is quite simple and basic, although there are a lot of speech bubbles that extend the story.
Children love joining in with the "Look out, he's behind you!"

۩۩۩ Educational Values ۩۩۩

~ As with all lift-the-flap books, it is a great way of developing hand-eye co-ordination as well as fine motor skills.
~ The positional language incorporated in the text is great: down the road, round the corner, over the bridge, across the village green.
~ The chant of "Look out, he's behind you!" encourages active participation and simple memory skills.
~ As with the original version of the story we have discussed the dangers of setting off on a short trip without a familiar adult.

۩۩۩ The author ۩۩۩

Tony Bradman went to Cambridge University, became a journalist and worked in pop music press.

He then went on to work in a range of ways to promote children's books, for example, he was the leading force in the 'Best Books for Babies Campaign' and has reviewed a number of children's books.

His first book was published in 1984 and in 1987 he became a full time author of books for children and adults.
Tony Bradman is probably best known for his Dilly the Dinosaur stories but here are some of his other publications:
~ Peek-a-boo Moon
~ Good night kind of feeling
~ Not like this, like that

۩۩۩ Final Thoughts ۩۩۩

This has been a favourite with the young children I have read this to over the years. However it's best on a 1:1 or very small group basis so that they can have a go at lifting the flaps.

Through the years, there have only been a handful of children who have been scared of the wolf in the story. Most aren't as he's portrayed in a slightly humorous way and isn't too scary or ugly!

A lovely lift-the-flap book which presents the traditional tale in a more up-beat way. 

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