The Little Green Swing
by Brenda Maier; illus. by Sonia Sánchez
Primary    Scholastic    40 pp.
9/24    9781338816198    $18.99
Paper ed.  9781546145691    $8.95

The third zippy folklore-inflected book about inventive Ruby and her three rambunctious brothers, Oscar Lee, Rodrigo, and José (The Little Red Fort, rev. 3/18; The Little Blue Bridge), is a takeoff on “The Three Little Pigs” with overtones of “The Little Red Hen” (as in Fort, the brothers don’t initially help here, either). Ruby’s mission to “build something stupendous” begins with a brainstorm (“I want to create something fun for all of us, but my idea is not there yet”), then some sketches, more contemplation, observation, and some problem-solving before inspiration strikes. Cheerful autumnal-hued mixed-media illustrations (changing leaves, sweaters, a light jacket) depict this plucky and creative family and act as foreshadowing for both the central meteorological problem and Ruby’s thoughtfully science-minded and enjoyable solution. Assists from her grateful, now-onboard siblings make the conclusion especially satisfying. An appended author’s note tells more about the folktale “The Three Little Pigs” and about Maier’s inspiration to modify its classic ending. No wolves were harmed.

From the ">January/February 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.