Peter and the Wolf, Retold and illustrated by Chris Raschka

Peter and the Wolf
Retold and illustrated by Chris Raschka
Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books; $17.99
40 pp.; ISBN-13: 978-0689856525

Review by Amy Brozio-Andrews

In this dynamic and engaging picture book that's really something different, Chris Raschka brings to life on the page Sergei Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf," the well-known children's symphony paired with a spoken narration originally composed in 1936.

Young Peter frolics in the meadow, enjoying being outside. Also present in the meadow are a cat and a duck, who soon get into an altercation because naturally the bird wants to know what kind of duck can't fly and the duck retaliates, demanding to know what kind of bird can't swim. When the cat appears, trolling for a snack, it seems like the whole scene will turn to chaos until Peter's grandfather shows up. He warns Peter about what might happen if a wolf shows up and then drags him home.

Of course, in the next scene, the wolf shows up and quickly gobbles up the duck. Peter spies the whole thing and decides to take matters into his own hands. Cleverly climbing a tree and plotting with the bird, he lassos the wolf and saves the day. With a small modern twist, the wolf ends up at the zoo where there's a happy surprise ending.

Chris Raschka is a Caldecott Award winner and he puts his artistic skill to great use in Peter and the Wolf. The right side of every two-page spread introduces new characters and what they say; percussive and melodic language evokes the musicality of Prokofiev's original work while three-dimensional paper illustrations replicate scenes from a stage work on the left side of every two-page spread. Peter and the Wolf is very much like theatre in miniature.

Peter and the Wolf is a streamlined version of Prokoviev's work, perfectly aimed at a young audience who will enjoy the bright and dramatic artwork and exciting language where each character's speech reflects a different tone and sound. For example, here's a sample of what the duck says, "Aieio just want to tieio swiiiiiiiiiiiiiiim in the Laieaieaieaiek" and the bird says, ""P-peter p-pitter P-Peter p-potter, Everything thingy, thingy izzy, izzy quiet singy." If you're planning on reading it aloud, skim the book first so you can get a feel for the text; it's nothing difficult, just different.

It's really a fun book to read and share with kids, full of drama and excitement.  Raschka's presentation of the story retains its musical and performance roots while sharing it with a new audience that is sure to love its energetic pace and heroic little boy as the lead character who gets the better of the wolf he's been warned about.