Wolves will (not) be Wolves

The wild woods are waiting, and Little Red wants to have an adventure, but weighed down by the King's Decree to "Be Good" and warnings from other fairy tale characters that the Big Bad Wolf is about, Little Red's journey suddenly seems fraught. On meeting Goldilocks, Hansel and Gretel and the Three Little Pigs, Little Red quickly goes from curious to furious as she wonders why she needs to alter her behaviour when the Big Bads are free to wander anywhere. Little Red's campaign gathers pace as beloved fairy tale characters join her in a march to reject the "Rules for Being Good" and finally take back the woods. This witty picture book introduces a serious subject to children, encouraging them to challenge the cautionary tales which are sewn into the fabric of storytelling. Although we are now well-versed in feminist fairy tales, a seed of caution remains rooted in our stories, parenting and laws, but what if we started challenging this narrative for our children? What if the onus of responsibility is shifted onto the villain? Wolves will (not) be Wolves introduces a serious subject in an easy-to-understand and lighthearted way.

Frances Stickley (Author) Frances is a former primary school teacher who first realised her love for writing with the poem My Dad's Milkfloat aged six. She is a trained children's literacy specialist and she won the Bloomsbury and National Literacy Trust short story prize in 2017. Her debut books Love you Always and What will you Dream of Tonight? were published by Nosy Crow in 2019. She lives with her family and a big-eared dog in Nottinghamshire. When she is not writing, you'll find her in the forest playing dragons with her daughters.