Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China

Book Title: Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story from China

Author(s): Ed Young

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Ed Young

Publisher: Philomel Books

Copyright Date: 1989

Genre: Folklore/fairy tale picturebook

Brief Annotation: In the Chinese version of Little Red Riding Hood, which is thought to be over a thousand years old, three children outsmart a wolf who comes to their home while their mother is away visiting their grandmother. The oldest child, suspecting something is awry, plots a plan that will keep them safe and kill the wolf, and with the help of her sisters, they manage to outsmart him.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 3.5—The Chinese version of this fairy tale is quite violent, much like the original. Kids will probably like to read about how the three girls were able to outwit the wolf, and the details that are specifically Chinese, like the ginkgo nuts the wolf seeks to eat, are interesting and add a different dynamic to the story. My favorite part of Lon Po Po, however, are the beautiful and haunting illustrations, which vividly capture the ominous mood of the story.

Readers who will like this book: Children who enjoy fairy tales, especially ones that are a bit scary; kids who like the original Little Red Riding Hood; teachers who are interested in having students compare and contrast stories that have many features that are alike as well as many that are different

Teaching Strategy from Tompkins or Yopp & Yopp (you'll link a strategy to at least 10 of your 40 books) : Venn diagram. After reading Lon Po Po, students will compare this version to the classic Little Red Riding Hood. They will record features that are common (e.g. both stories feature a wolf; both stories have a scary ending) and features that are unique (e.g. Lon Po Po has three girl characters vs. Little Red Riding Hood’s one; in Lon Po Po, the wolf comes to the children’s home, while in Little Red Riding Hood, the girl goes to her grandmother’s home and encounters the wolf along the way). Venn diagrams are great for comparing and contrasting ideas and information, and the visual representation appeals to kids who are visual learners. (Yopp & Yopp, pgs. 115-117)

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: What is a fairy tale? How do we know a story is a fairy tale? We are going to read a different version of an old story you are probably all familiar with. I want you to note what is the same as the story you know and what is different.

Optional, but noted as extra effort:

1. Interest Level (age): K—3

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 2.6

3. List awards: Caldecott Medal, Boston Globe Horn Book Award, ALA Notable, Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, Parent's Choice Silver Honor

4. Book trailer: None