Review: Lily Blue Riding Hood
Lily Blue Riding Hood: A Purim Story by Sandy Lanton, illustrated by Kim Barnes Intergalactic Afikomen, 2023 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Arlene Schenker Buy at Bookshop.org Lily Blue Riding Hood is pure delight, giving the reader a smile or a laugh on every page. Author Sandy Lanton remakes the Little Red Riding Hood fairytale into a perfect Purim story with a spunky, skateboarding Jewish heroine and even a Jewish big, bad wolf. The reader will know he’s Jewish when he exclaims “oy vey.” Pickle-baller Grandma lives in a Florida condo, so for those who live there, or for readers with parents or grandparents there, this brings another knowing smile. As a bonus for parents, the book models proper safety measures for riding a skateboard. There’s a Purim spiel played for a diverse crowd, with Thaddeus Wolf playing the most fitting character. It ends with Lily, Thaddeus, and Grandma all engaging in a mitzvah together. Back matter includes a hamantashen recipe and a short explanation