Mighty Red Riding Hood: A Fairly Queer Tale (Fairly Queer Tales, 1)

Leroy LeRouge feels confident and beautiful when he puts on his frilly red riding hood. His mother give him healthy (but odd flavored) muffins to take to his Moo Moo’s house. As he skips out the door with a smile on his face, a very surly wolf spies Leroy’s unusual outfit. He follows Little Red, insulting his feminine coat. Leroy continues to tell the persistent wolf that he feels happy and confident when he wears this hooded coat, but the wolf insists that it’s not something a boy should wear.

Leroy reaches Moo Moo’s house and tells her about this uncomfortable situation. Moo Moo tells the wolf that the coat makes Leroy feel mighty, so it doesn’t matter what it looks like. Leroy tricks the wolf into eating an unpleasant muffin and they share a laugh together.

This book can encourage children ages three to seven to express themselves and speak up against bullies. The message is well-intended, but kids may be disheartened if the same strategy does not work in real life. The wolf immediately changes his demeanor based on one comment from Moo Moo. The sudden personality change feels uncharacteristic, but this book promotes confidence and destroys gender stereotypes.