Editor’s note: Sara, the young artist who brought you the Poet Comic, now brings you the story of Little Red Riding Hood in the style of a graphic novel.
Consider the dominant images in the story: the red velvet, the pink nightie, the wolf’s scar. Using these images, or others that strike you, can you write a poem about this well-loved fairy tale? Post your poem in the comments so we can share one another’s words.
(Click on an image to view it larger. And if you like, you can download the entire piece in a single PDF.)
Post by Sara Barkat, at age 15.
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Sara Barkat
I like my tea black (with a special love for Indian chai) and my novels long (give me sci-fi, fantasy, or 19th century to make me especially happy!)—though I’m always exploring beyond my known universe and will drink greens, reds, and oolongs, and read almost any genre or style that crosses my table. Speaking of the universe, I have a passion for learning about anything from black holes to the mysteries of time. When I’m not sitting by the window, sharing the sun with our little lemon tree, I can be found making lemon cupcakes and other confections, creating art (pen and ink, intaglio, and Prismacolors, please) or moving through the world on the toes of ballet or jazz dance.
Jennifer@GDWJ says
Brilliant!
Donna says
So much talent! Love this, and was really struck by the image of the grandmother emerging from the belly of the wolf. So clever.
Donna says
No… I mean Little Red!
Tania Runyan says
Sara, you are going to make it big in the world. You’re already big in mine!
Lyla Lindquist says
Besides the amazing illustrations (seriously, Sara), this part was my favorite: don’t peep into every corner before you do.
🙂
Maureen Doallas says
Really wonderful!
Claire says
Sara, you amaze. Truly you do.
x
Paul Willingham says
The wolf hunt is on in Minnesota so I stayed out of the woods. Great job Sara. At 15 I couldn’t even draw stick people.
Narrow is the Path
Red velvet hood to cover her head
Red velvet coverlet for grandmother’s bed
There’s red velvet cake in lieu of sweet bread
And velvety red wine to sip as she’s fed
Like the serpent, deceitful, cunning, and hungry,
The old grey wolf is still what he used to be
Red strayed from the path, thus she failed to see
Plotting, scheming, the wolf, just how wily is he
With a bellyful of grandma, he continues his lies
to naive Red, bigger than his stomach are his eyes
He carries on the ruse as Red hears his replies
Yet little does he sense his imminent demise
No nine one one, Batmobile, X-Men, indeed
the woodsman’s sewing kit is all he will need
As along the dotted line the scissors proceed
Viola, dear grandmother is finally freed
The nasty old wolf’s big banquet is spurned
The wolf’s luxurious pelt a reward that is earned
With red cake, red wine, grandma’s poor health is turned
And Red returns home with a lesson well learned.
Lyla Lindquist says
Well played, Dad. I was thinking red velvet cake too. Leave it to a master chef. 😉
Diana Trautwein says
Love, LOVE this. Thank you, Sara.
Laurie Flanigan says
This is impressive! The illustrations are lovely and compelling. The story is captivating and wonderfully written.
Lisa Easterling says
A young girl, a basket, a cloak of deep red
A grandmother sickly and frail in her bed
An enemy greedy and heartless and vile
Clever and sly and adept to beguile
Sneering and snuffing the sun’s final ray
Evil triumphant in glee wins the day
Victory lovely as cake and sweet wine
Sings as the glutton endeavors to dine
Soon are the notes hammered silent and still
Vanquished by Good and the strength of His will
Ere our long journey be swept up in death
We are assured of His life-giving breath
We stray from the path but His promises stand
Nothing can steal us for long from His hand
Megan Willome says
This is stunning! Especially the way the wolf is also wolf-man. Creepy and true to the tale. Plus, I love the different perspectives, like having a dozen different eyes telling the story.
It’s one of those stories that’s almost too-familiar, but you made it new, Sara.