Once Upon a Wild Wood

By: Chris Riddell

Narrated by: Cassie Layton

Once Upon a Wild Wood is a richly imagined story packed full of familiar fairy tale characters as you've never heard them before. A fabulously funny adventure, full of warmth and wit – this is Chris Riddell at his best!

Little Green Raincape is on her way to Rapunzel's party, deep in the wild woods. The way is long and dark, but Green is a smart girl. Smart enough to turn down apples offered by kindly old ladies and smart enough to turn down travel advice from helpful wolves . . .

Above all, Green is smart enough to solve a wealth of classic fairy tale problems – not least mend a lovelorn beast's broken heart.

Including Red Riding Hood, Thumbelina, Rapunzel, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, the Three Bears, the Seven Dwarfs – and many more – Once Upon a Wild Wood is a beautiful adventure for curious young readers.

Critic reviews

A smart young heroine, playful storytelling full of wit and detail, and rich, layered pictures in his unique style (Editor's Choice)

Chris Riddell’s Once Upon a Wild Wood is an elegant subversion of the fairytale canon [...] Riddell’s layered landscapes, full of sly detail, invite exploration.

Riddell’s drawings lend old-fashioned enchantment to this thoroughly modern tale

The details are joyous and the text is wryly witty. Supreme draughtsmanship and the chance for children to feel knowing make this book a winner.

There’s extraordinary detail in the illustrations and, while children will enjoy spotting the familiar faces, the way in which Riddell subverts the original stories introduces a fresh take on age-old adventures, heroes and villains.

Former Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell weaves a wonderful fantasy adventure around some of the best loved fairy story characters in this hugely attractive and thoroughly entertaining picture story book. (Julia Eccleshare)

A truly delightful book, with illustrations that will set children's imaginations alight.

Riddell’s artwork is as lush and detailed as ever [...] a must for lovers of fairy tales and happy endings! (2018-2019 Reading Guide)