Caldecott Medal Winner

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

by Ed Young

Summary

In this Chinese retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, a wolf disguised as the children's grandmother, Po Po, tricks his way into the house while their mother is away. The clever eldest daughter sees through the deception and lures the wolf up a gingko tree, where the sisters outwit and defeat him. Young illustrates the tale in atmospheric pastels and watercolors arranged in panels inspired by Chinese painting, using shadow and light to build genuine suspense.

Historical Context & Significance

Ed Young won the medal for a story he translated from a Chinese oral tradition more than a thousand years old.