Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story From China
1990 Randolph Caldecott Medal For Most Distinguished Picture Book
Written and Illustrated by Ed Young
Published by PaperStar, 1990
Picture Book, Traditional Literature, K-2
Summary: When Shang, Tao, and Paotze’s mother leaves to go visit their grandmother, she tells them that she will not be back that night and to latch the door tight behind them. An old wolf saw the mother leave and he wanted to try to trick the children. He dressed as an old woman and pretended to be their “Po-Po.” When they opened the door, wolf blew out the candle. Tao and Paotze rushed to their grandmother, wanting to be hugged. They climbed into bed with their “Po-Po” and were surprised when they felt the tail and sharp claws of the wolf. When Shang lit the candle again, the wolf quickly blew it out, but not before Shang saw his face. She decides to try to trick the wolf. She asks her “Po-Po” if she would like any gingko nuts, which will make you live forever. The three children leave the house to climb the tree to pick the nuts for their grandmother. Shang tells the wolf to tie a rope around a basket and throw it up on the tree. That way, they could pull their Po-Po up the tree. Working together, Shang, Tao, and Paotze kill the wolf. They allow the wolf to get so high in the basket and then they drop him. When they realize that he is dead, the children go into the house and fall peacefully asleep.
Response: This version is quite different from the American version of Little Red Riding Hood. I believe that the message conveyed in this story contains more meaning, for the children work together to trick the wolf. In the American tale, the woodcutter comes to kill the wolf and save Little Red Riding Hood. The characters of traditional literature are demonstrated through Lon Po Po. The hero would be Shang, for her desire to trick the wolf drives the story forward. The goal is to trick the wolf. The rival would be the wolf and the helper would be Paotze’s sisters, Tao and Paotze. Lon Po Po could be considered an animal tale, and more specifically, a trickster tale. While the wolf is trying to trick the children, the children are also trying to trick the wolf!
The illustrations are very unique and deserving of the Caldecott award! The borders around the illustrations offers a means for the illustrator to control how intimately readers feel involved with the pictures. The borders in Lon Po Po seem to be used to sepereate scenes or to separate the text from the illustration. For example, when the wolf is falling from the basket, no borders are used, to show continuous and dramatic action. Also, when the children first let their “grandmother” into their home, there is a border break in-between the children and the wolf. While the children are surrounded by a red, yellow glow, the wolf is surrounded with dark blue and blacks. Therefore, color is also used to contrast the different characters of the children and wolf, showing good and evil.
Teaching Ideas: Students can take into account the teamwork the sisters demonstrated in order to reach their goal of out-witting the fox. Teacher can ask, “Are you part of a team? How are we part of a team in the classroom?” Students can understand that they can help each other learn to the best of their ability by encouraging each other, using kind words, paying attention, and following directions. Students can also see the effects of greed through the wolf. The wolf was greedy in that he wanted to taste a ginko nut and this led to the wolf’s fall. Students can understand what greed is and the effects it can have on a person.
Lon Po Po will be enjoyed by children and adults alike, for all will enjoy the children working together to outwit the wolf.
1990 Randolph Caldecott Medal For Most Distinguished Picture Book
Written and Illustrated by Ed Young
Published by PaperStar, 1990
Picture Book, Traditional Literature, K-2
Summary: When Shang, Tao, and Paotze’s mother leaves to go visit their grandmother, she tells them that she will not be back that night and to latch the door tight behind them. An old wolf saw the mother leave and he wanted to try to trick the children. He dressed as an old woman and pretended to be their “Po-Po.” When they opened the door, wolf blew out the candle. Tao and Paotze rushed to their grandmother, wanting to be hugged. They climbed into bed with their “Po-Po” and were surprised when they felt the tail and sharp claws of the wolf. When Shang lit the candle again, the wolf quickly blew it out, but not before Shang saw his face. She decides to try to trick the wolf. She asks her “Po-Po” if she would like any gingko nuts, which will make you live forever. The three children leave the house to climb the tree to pick the nuts for their grandmother. Shang tells the wolf to tie a rope around a basket and throw it up on the tree. That way, they could pull their Po-Po up the tree. Working together, Shang, Tao, and Paotze kill the wolf. They allow the wolf to get so high in the basket and then they drop him. When they realize that he is dead, the children go into the house and fall peacefully asleep.
Response: This version is quite different from the American version of Little Red Riding Hood. I believe that the message conveyed in this story contains more meaning, for the children work together to trick the wolf. In the American tale, the woodcutter comes to kill the wolf and save Little Red Riding Hood. The characters of traditional literature are demonstrated through Lon Po Po. The hero would be Shang, for her desire to trick the wolf drives the story forward. The goal is to trick the wolf. The rival would be the wolf and the helper would be Paotze’s sisters, Tao and Paotze. Lon Po Po could be considered an animal tale, and more specifically, a trickster tale. While the wolf is trying to trick the children, the children are also trying to trick the wolf!
The illustrations are very unique and deserving of the Caldecott award! The borders around the illustrations offers a means for the illustrator to control how intimately readers feel involved with the pictures. The borders in Lon Po Po seem to be used to sepereate scenes or to separate the text from the illustration. For example, when the wolf is falling from the basket, no borders are used, to show continuous and dramatic action. Also, when the children first let their “grandmother” into their home, there is a border break in-between the children and the wolf. While the children are surrounded by a red, yellow glow, the wolf is surrounded with dark blue and blacks. Therefore, color is also used to contrast the different characters of the children and wolf, showing good and evil.
Teaching Ideas: Students can take into account the teamwork the sisters demonstrated in order to reach their goal of out-witting the fox. Teacher can ask, “Are you part of a team? How are we part of a team in the classroom?” Students can understand that they can help each other learn to the best of their ability by encouraging each other, using kind words, paying attention, and following directions. Students can also see the effects of greed through the wolf. The wolf was greedy in that he wanted to taste a ginko nut and this led to the wolf’s fall. Students can understand what greed is and the effects it can have on a person.
Lon Po Po will be enjoyed by children and adults alike, for all will enjoy the children working together to outwit the wolf.
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