Age 04-08. 4 Stars. In a creative and sly twist on the traditional Red Riding Hood story, a little girl named Flossie is sent through the woods to bring the neighbors a basket of eggs, because a fox has been terrorizing their henhouse…. The book is illustrated with beautiful paintings, evocative of the historic rural American South, and the little girl is rendered charmingly in a number of pleasant outdoor scenes. The text, however, is the great drawing point of: the story is told in a warm voice characteristic of the African-influenced English that grew up in the South…. Flossie’s victory over the fox keys on her quick-witted verbal banter (a quality especially valued in African-American culture), and she demonstrates intelligence and strength of will throughout the interaction…. She has matched her wits against an animal known for quick-wittedness, and has won the day. This is a delightfully enjoyable excursion.