Folktale Review - Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China By: Ed Young

Bibliography
Young, E. (1989). Lon po po: A red-riding hood story from China. Ill. By Ed Young. New York: Philomel Books. ISBN 0399216197

Plot Summary
Three sisters, Shang Tao and Paotza, live in the country with their mother who leaves them to visit their grandmother, Po Po. At dusk, a wolf disguised as their Po Po knocks on the door, telling the children to let it in. The children are suspicious since their mother has journeyed to visit their Po Po, but the wolf coaxes the children into letting it in. Upon arrival inside of the house, the fake Po Po blows out the candle, as to not reveal its true identity. The wolf acts as if it is weak and tired and piles into bed with the three young children. While in the bed, Shang feels the bushy tail and razor-sharp claws of the wolf. The wolf explains that what Shang is feeling are hemp strings to weave baskets and an awl to make shoes with. Then Shang lights another candle and catches a glimpse of the wolf’s furred face. Shang immediately begins to enlighten the wolf about gingko nuts. Shang tells the wolf how delectable and enjoyable they are. Shang, Tao and Paotze scurry up the gingko tree to pick nuts for the fake Po Po, who waits at the bottom of the soaring tree. Shang enlightens her sisters on the wolf’s real identity. The three sisters call down to the wolf, explaining that the nuts are only good if they are picked strait from the tree, and eaten immediately. They instruct the wolf to fetch a basket, sit in it, and throw a rope up to the tree so that the wolf can be hoisted up to the mouth-watering gingko nuts. At this point, the wolf is so consumed with getting to the nuts; it will do anything to acquire them. As the three sisters heave the wolf in the basket, they drop it several times. They keep assuring the wolf that they will succeed in pulling it up if they continue to try. During the final attempt, the three children pull incredibly hard, but all release the wolf when Shang signals them with a cough. This last blow to the wolf ends its life. The three children run to their home and lock the door. The next day, their mother and real Po Po return to hear the tale of the Po Po who visited the night before.

Critical Analysis
Young’s story allows the reader to be exposed to a traditional tale set in a new environment. He depicts the wolf as deceptive in nature. The wolf comes to a home with three young girls, and attempts to trick them enough so that it can eventually delight in devouring them. The tables quickly turn as Shang discovers the wolf’s true character. Young portrays Shang as very intelligent and cunning. When she sees the wolf’s face in the candlelight, she does not scream or bolt from the bed. Instead, she chooses to prey on the wolf’s weaknesses, which in this case is food. The strong, charismatic character of Shang could be thought of as a fine role model for young girls. When the other two sisters learn about the wolf, they all come together as a team to defeat the wolf. The reader can see Shang’s persuasive skills when she says, “But Po Po, Gingko is magic only when it is plucked directly from the tree. You must come and pluck it from the tree yourself” (Young 1989). As the three girls unsuccessfully hoist the wolf up the tree repeatedly, the wolf’s character turns from deceiving to desperate, almost comical. Any outsider witnessing this event could tell that the girls were trying to con the wolf. The wolf becomes so fixated on getting the gingko nuts, masking its identity is no longer a priority. It as if the wolf has lost all focus because of his obsession with achieving something to eat. Like in most traditional tales, good triumphs over evil.
The illustrations in the book reveal the wolf’s figure and face to the reader, but not to the children. Because of this, the reader is able to see how much danger the children are actually in. The picture of the wolf in bed with the children is particularly scary. We see the younger girls, Tao and Paotza, looking longingly towards their Po Po. At this same time, we see Shang with a dubious look on her face. The pictures help tell the story. They add a sense of actuality when we see the scenarios drawn out for us.

Review Excerpts
Publishers Weekly
Like ancient Oriental paintings, the illustrations are frequently grouped in panels. When the girls meet the wolf, e.g., the left panel focuses on their wary faces peering out from the darkness, the middle enlarges the evil wolf's eye and teeth, and the third is a vivid swirl of the blue clothes in which the wolf is disguised. The juxtaposition of abstract and realistic representations, the complicated play of color and shadow, and the depth of the artist's vision all help transform this simple fairy tale into an extraordinary and powerful book.

School Library Journal
The clever animal blows out the candle before the children can see him , and is actually in bed with them when they start asking the traditional "Why, Grandma!" questions. The eldest realizes the truth and tricks the wolf into letting them go outside to pick gingko nuts , and then lures him to his doom. 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, menacing in the exchanges with the wolf, and positively chilling in the scenes inside the house. Overall, this is an outstanding achievement that will be pored over again and again.


Connections:
Children can identify differences and similarities between Lon Po Po and Little Red-Riding Hood. By doing this children can see how some cultures are different, such as calling grandmother ‘Po Po.’ By reading more traditional tales from other countries, children learn so much about cultures and various ethnicities. Diverse children will also be able to identify with many of the retellings.
Additional recommended books:
*Arrow to the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale by Gerald McDermott ISBN 0670133698
*Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti by Gerald McDermott ISBN 0805003118