Lon Po Po

Young's Caldecott winner is set in China. When a wolf gains admittance to the home while Mother is away, two youngsters with a clever older sister mastermind the wolf's downfall and deliver almost more suspense than the listener can bear. B. D. Wong's narration brings richness to the tale. As the wolf, his low and wispy voice, which may be due to a cold, oozes frigidity. Wong is urgent yet understated as efforts to raise the wolf to the heights of the gingko tree unfold. Wong's slow, steady pace heightens the listener's anticipation, and the musical background lends an authentic flavor to the recording. A.R. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine