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

This is an incredibly well illustrated book with an even more interesting plot twist. Three children are left alone, and without hesitation a wolf comes calling. The children recognize this, to the readers surprise, and they trick the wolf into a vulnerable position where they make the wolf the victim. This seems like a twist of sorts on the Three Little Pigs, where the predator winds up being the victim, in this case, the wolf. I think that this that this book with its very beautiful illustrations would be a good way to introduce the concept of the oppressor becoming the oppressed, and how being the oppressor is kind of like being the monster of the story. We can also discuss alternative outcomes where the children do not kill the show more wolf. For example, instead, maybe trick him in a way where no one gets hurt. show less

When Shang, Tao and Paotze's mother leaves to visit their Po Po, or grandmother, she warns the three girls not to let anyone into the house. But a crafty wolf, observing her departure, soon presents himself at the door, masquerading as Po Po. When the sisters find themselves literally in bed with the wolf, they soon realize that they aren't snuggling up to Granny! But what can they do...?

This Chinese variant of Little Red Riding Hood sees the wolf coming to the girl(s), rather than the other way around, and features a much less passive heroine than can be found in the Grimms. Oldest sister Shang can't afford to wait for a woodcutter to happen by, and rescue her - she knows that she must act, in order to protect Tao and Paotze! Ed show more Young's illustrations - which won him a Caldecott Medal - perfectly capture the eerie quality of this tale, and its rather gruesome conclusion.

This is a real folktale, ably presented by Young, and readers both young and old should be aware that it has teeth! Very sensitive children may find it too frightening. But for those who relish a scary story, Lon Po Po fits the bill, while also providing an excellent example of comparative folklore, and the connections between cultures. Highly, highly recommended! Even the dedication - "To all the wolves of the world for lending their good name as tangible symbol for our darkness" - (which my goodreads friend Chandra also mentioned) is fabulous! show less

This book is a wonderful version of Little Red Riding Hood, in a version where instead of one child traveling alone in the forest, three sisters are left home alone by their mother and the wolf disguises himself as their grandmother and convinces them to let him in. The sisters work together to outwit Lon Po Po, who seems to represent all darkness and fear through the authors portrayal of the wolf as always being surrounded by darkness.

A retelling of Red Riding Hood through a culturally Chinese lens, Lon Po Po should resonate with any readers familiar with the classic European folktale. Instead of a journey to Grandma's house and an impersonating wolf in the bed, the wolf in Lon Po Po is more of an opportunistic predator who takes advantage of the girls' mother being away. Instead of being rescued by an outside party as Red Riding Hood is in many versions, the girls outwit the wolf and lure him to his death, solving their own problem before their mother returns. This slight difference gives the story a somewhat darker tone, since the protagonists clearly kill the wolf with premeditation and, to be honest, a little cruelly.

Dark. Are the kids supposed to be creepy too? Art is beautiful and unsettling. Forever impressed by the dedication "to all the wolves of the world for lending their good name as a tangible symbol for our darkness".

This is book is a retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood" as a chinese folk tale. Three children are left home alone. A wolf comes, pretending to be their grandmother. The oldest daughter figures out he is lying and tells her siblings. They trick the wolf and ultimately kill him.
I love this book. The illustrations are so moody and dark, full of shadows and sharp wolf teeth. The story is very scary, the children are in real danger. The scene where they kill the wolf is drawn out and gruesome. I think there is something to be said for the honesty and darkness used to portray this familiar fairy tale. In the European "Little Red Riding Hood", the wolf is killed, but it's only mentioned in passing. I don't think this book is right for all show more kids, but those that like a good scare would really love it. show less

Lon Po Po tells the story of three sisters left alone while their mother goes to visit their grandmother in an inversion of the traditional Western Red-Riding Hood tale. A wolf comes to call disguised as their grandmother and the three girls cleverly outwit the wolf to avoid being eaten. I initially picked up Lon Po Po on display because I was drawn to the eerie image of a wolf on the cover and found the entire story equally haunting and expertly illustrated. The author/illustrator captures the frightening aspect of the Red-Riding Hood tale with dark, shadowy colors and expressive figures. I would hesitate to read this as a bedtime story as it is a little creepy, but overall a good story with a nice twist on Red-Riding Hood. I show more appreciate the initiative the girls take in this version rather than just waiting to be saved. show less