Title: Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story from China
Author: Ed Young
Illustrator: Ed Young
Publisher: Philomel Books, 1989
Number of Pages: 30 pages
Tags: Award Book, Animals, Culture, Fiction, Picture Book, 2-3, 4-5, Stephanie Prentice
Genre: Myth
Analysis: This tale from Ancient China is very similar to the European version of The Little Red Riding Hood. After their mother leaves to see their grandmother, Shang, Tao, and Paotze are left home alone when they hear a knock on the door. The wolf claims to be the children’s grandmother, but they soon realize she is not. They plan on how to get rid of the wolf. This book is a Caldecott Gold Medal award winner.
Children who read this book can easily recognize the similarities and differences between this tale and the Westernized version. They can also see how the Chinese culture tells this well-known story. The authentic Chinese culture is reflected in this story, as it was translated from an ancient Chinese oral tradition that is nearly a thousand years old. Since the author of the text is part of the Chinese culture himself it is fair to say this story is an accurate representation.
The images are a combination of pastels and water color, which work very well together. The images are also framed, emphasizing the idea the story is an old tradition. In the beginning of the story, the colors are brighter but soon turn dark, signaling the danger that is soon to come. The pictures of the wolf are always created with dark colors creating a dark and dangerous feel. The emotions on the childrens’ faces are realistic and one can sense the fear they have. As the children defeat the wolf, the images become brighter once again. The main plot of the story is very similar to the western traditional story; however, it incorporates many things from the Chinese culture. For example, the children climb the gingko tree, which has gingko nuts that allow for people to live forever. The children are also seen wearing traditional Chinese clothing. The heroine in this story is a female, which is rare for fairy tales. From the beginning, the oldest daughter realizes that the wolf is playing a trick on them. This differs from the Western version where the main character falls for the wolf’s tricks. This story shows the dangers of children staying home alone. The wolf saw the mother leave and takes advantage of the situation. This story also teaches children they should obey their parents. Before the girls’ mom left, reminded them to shut and lock the door tight. When the wolf arrives at the house, the girls open the door for him. In addition, this story teaches children to keep calm while they are in danger. 