Independent Reading Level: Grades 1st through 2nd grade
Awards: Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts Award (2014), SLJ Best Books of the Year (2013)

This was extremely overwhelming for me, as it had so much going on. It confused me so I know it would confuse a younger student.

This story was a disaster to read. It was structured horribly and gave me a headache about three pages in. I think it could be beneficial for some teachers to discuss plot structures and sequencing, but I would perfectly happy if I never had to open it again.

A yellow no. 2 pencil instructs her students on how to write a story:

Story Path
1. Idea, characters, setting
2. Trouble
3. Even bigger trouble
4. Fix the trouble

Little Red sets off to write her story, asking herself, "What would a brave pencil do?" Her teacher gives her a basket of words to use on her journey, and she eventually faces the villain in principal's clothing - the Wolf 3000 pencil sharpener!

At once a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and a template for how to write a story, this gets an A+. ( )

Based on Little Red Riding Hood, this book is about a pencil called Little Red, who is trying to write a story for class. She decides she wants to write about bravery "because Red is the color of courage." Her teacher, Ms. 2 warns her about staying on her story path and sends her on her way with a basket of red words. As Red travels on her story path she encounters messy adjectives that threaten to bring too much description to her story. Then she come conjunction glue, who spits out too many words. As she continues along her story path, trying not to wonder off, she hears a strange voice and sees a tail and follows it into the principals office where she expects to see Principal Granny but to her dismay Wolf 3000, a pencil sharpener tries to trick her and she realizes he has Principal Granny. In her efforts to save Principal Granny, Red throws her finally red word, dynamite, and saves Principal Granny.

This story illustrates that great writing can come from inspiration of well known stories, such as Little Red Riding Hood. It brings a sense of familiarity throughout the story and enthralls the readers with exciting new adventures discussing the many distractions that can get in the way of writing a "good" story. ( )