Kids Books A to Z: Y is for Young

Ed Young is the author of the classic children's book Lon Po Po. It was the winner of the Caldecott Medal in 1990. The story is a Chinese fairytale, based on Little Red Riding Hood, with illustrations done in panels like in ancient Oriental paintings.


Three girls are left at home while their mother goes to visit their grandmother. Lon Po Po is the wolf who comes to their house, pretending to be their grandmother. The oldest girl sees through the wolf's trick and plots to get rid of him once and for all. The girls manage to trick him into a basket at the top of the tree and then drop the basket so that he falls to his death.

Ed Young has also written 17 other books and illustrated over 60 for other authors. His Chinese heritage is his biggest inspiration for his work.