Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

When two sisters are left home alone, a tiger attempts to enter their home by disguising himself as an aunt. Little Sister succumbs to the tiger's promise of sweets and gets gobbled up whole; Big Sister comes up with a cunning plan that bests the tiger and saves her sister, and the girls vow to get along better in the future. Yep's retelling is clear and straightforward; accessible, conversational language makes the story a workable choice for readers-aloud and storytellers. Unfortunately, the only indication of the tale's folkloric origin (it's apparently a Chinese "Little Red Riding Hood variant") is the jacket flap text and CIP information, since there's no note or explanation of its adaptation, and the didactic element of the sisters' relationship looms large in the account. Lee's artwork, possessed of a smooth regularity that suggests computer creation, is a little slickly cartoonish at times, and the multitude of electric hues sometimes becomes garish. The illustrations nonetheless add a welcome liveliness and urgency to the story through unusually angled compositions and perspectives and through the energetic figures: the top-heavy tiger in aunt's clothing is particularly impressive with his muscular physique, gleaming eyes, and pointy teeth and claws, all of which ably demonstrate his menace (though he's still comic enough to avoid being genuinely terrifying). Tellers and teachers may want to do some background research on the tale before presenting it to an audience, but it could pair with Young's Lon Po Po (BCCB 11/89) for a Chinese Red Riding Hood contrast, or simply make an entertaining story, especially for argumentative siblings. [End Page 267]