Genre 2-LS5603-Book Review of folktale retold by Ed Young

LS 5603- Book review of folktale retold and illustrated by Ed Young
1.Bibliography: Young, Ed. Trans. 1989. Lon Po Po, A Red Riding Hood from China. New York: Philomel Books. ISBN 0399216197
2.Plot Summary: Lon Po Po is a retelling of the story of Little Red-Riding Hood. In this version, we encounter three girls who come in contact with the wolf after their mother goes to attend to their grandmother on her birthday. Shang, Tao and Paotze use their skills to trick the wolf and escape being eaten. After several attempts by Lon Po Po to trick the girls and eat them, the girls decide to turn the tables. Appealing to the wolf’s hunger, Shang, Tao and Paotze trick the wolf into climbing the tree for gingko nuts. The lure of the soft, tender gingko nut ultimately leads to the wolf’s demise.
3.Critical Analysis: The female characters are the symbol of good in the story, while the character of the wolf, Lon Po Po, represents evil. The journey that the girls go through to escape the clutches of the wolf and to eventually lead the wolf to its demise is crucial to the story. The illustrations are evident of the author’s background. Ed Young was born in China and his love of the artwork of this country is evident in the style of the illustrations. Each page is brought to life with the soft , flowing watercolors that complement the history of this retelling. The love that Mr. Young has for his home country is evident in many of his books, with the oral retelling of many Chinese tales brought to book form for generations to enjoy.
4. Awards Won and Review Excerpt(s):
Caldecott Medal 1990
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
School Library Journal review:” The text possesses that matter-of-fact veracity that characterizes the best fairy tales. The watercolor and pastel pictures are remarkable: mystically beautiful in their depiction of the Chinese countryside”

5. Connections:
Others books by Ed Young:
Young, Ed. Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China ISBN-10: 0698113888
Young, Ed. Seven Blind Mice ISBN-10: 0698118952
Young, Ed. Cat and Rat: The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac ISBN-10: 0805060499
Different versions of Little Red-Riding Hood:
Daly, Niki. Pretty Salma: A Little Red Riding Hood Story from Africa ISBN-10: 0618723455
Artell, Mike. Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood ISBN-10: 0803725140