Lon+Po+Po

__**Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story From China**__ by Ed Young **__Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story From China__** **Translated and Illustrated by Ed Young** //Book Reviewed by: Lauren Barry//

Title: __Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story From China__ Author: Ed Young Illustrator: Ed Young Reading Level: Kindergarten - 3rd Grade Publisher: Puffin Books Language: English ISBN: 978-0698113824 Format: Hardcover Pages: 32 pages

Summary: This book is a translated and retold version of the famous fairy tale of //Little Red Riding Hood.// This Chinese spin of the fairy tale shows a different point of view. In this case, the children stay home and the trouble arises as their mother leaves to go visit Po Po, their grandmother. Then, the wolf comes to their house pretending to be Po Po! Once the wolf comes in he is back to the same old tricks that the original fairy tale is so well known for; costuming and acting like grandma. Once the three sisters, Shang, Tao, and Paotze realize that this Po Po is an imposter, they take matters into their own hands. With an exciting ending that is vastly different from the American version, students are guaranteed to enjoy the excitement of taking care of the wolf at once.

Book Review: This take on the original fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood was a great read. I wasn't too sure how to feel about a remake of such a classic, but Ed Young did a wonderful job! The switch up of point of view in the story was really what made it for me. To hear the version told by the eldest of three sisters as the wolf came to the house was an interesting take. I also enjoyed the alternate ending. I surely don't want to give it away, so I highly encourage you to take a look for yourself!

About the Author: Ed Young is a writer and illustrator who won the 1990 Caldecott Award for this book, __Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story From China__. Young has illustrated over 40 picture books and has even written four of them himself. Young has used his Chinese culture as inspiration for his illustrations. His goal as an illustrator was to move away from advertisements and make a more meaningful, more tasteful way for words in a book to be paired.

Analysis of literary element: The plot development in this children's book is noteworthy. As many know the plot of Little Red Riding Hood already, the audience is lead to believe they know the plot of the novel already. However, through careful writing and considering where to throw in a twist and a turn, the plot is an exemplar of exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. For a classroom use this book would be able to be a lead example for students. During read aloud students would be able to identify all of the components while listening to the story.

Related links: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/contributor/ed-young http://www.napavalley.edu/people/LYanover/Documents/English%20123/English%20123%20Lon%20Po%20Po%20A%20Red%20Ridinghood%20story%20from%20China.pdf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lon_Po_Po