Timothy Knapman (text) and Jean Jullien (illustrator), The Greedy Wolf, Walker Books, January 2025, 48 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781406385175
The Greedy Wolf is a modern and humorous illustrated retelling of the Grimm Brothers’ fairytale – The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats. In this new version, the seven little goats come up with innovative and wily tricks to ward off the greedy wolf and stop him from eating them.
My 3-year-old grandchild and I loved the silliness of this story’s absurd ideas. From the goats asking for egg-and-bacon … broccoli-and-cabbage flavour ice cream to the wolf disguising as a talking rose bush with a flowerpot on [his] head and the goats distracting the wolf with their delicious culinary creations – the story is laugh-out-loud, entertaining fun, right to the surprising and unconventional ending. Unexpected story twists also kept us both engaged.
Author, Knapman, is a highly regarded British author with many of his books translated into different languages. He expertly tells this story with expressive sounding character dialogue and an accessible structure of repeated patterns. His contemporary references, which are familiar for today’s picture book readers, include popular food (pizza, chips, burgers), parcel delivery and birthday parties.
Illustrator, Jullien, is also a successful creator whose humorous illustrations in this book augment the playfulness of the story. His bold, cartoon style, simplified forms have distinct black outlines that contrast with vibrant colours – dark blue for the wolf and pure white for the goats – all set against a brightly coloured background. The characters’ facial expressions and body postures add important meaning about their emotions.
I recommend this entertaining book for 3 – 8-year-olds, and the adults who read to them. I can also see it as a useful teaching resource for a lesson on writing fractured fairy tales.
Reviewed by Barbara Swartz
