Gorey's illustrations are much like his illustrations in everything else: sly, clever, menacing with a quiet gloom, and quietly humorous.

De Regnier's verse is comical and a bit offcenter.

"And the wicked wolf, Without more ado, Ate Red Riding Hood, And the little cake, too."

Gorey's facing illustration for this bit of verse shows our friend Mr. wolf, greedily poised to gobble up a cake, leaning with a very satisfied look against the footboard of grandma's bed, holding the red hood with his left forepaw. Flowers are strewn on the floor, the gathering-basket upset near his feet. Not a trace of the girl is to be seen.

Hopefully you can pick up a copy of this second-hand, or booksellers will again sell new copies someday. As of now (April 2001), it seems to be out of print.