Yep, Laurence. Tiger
Woman. Ill. by Robert Roth. Bridgewater Books, 1995.
ISBN: 0-8167-3464-X
Plot Summary:
Based on a Shantung folk song, Laurence Yep tells the story
of a greedy and selfish old woman who refuses to share her bean curd with a
hungry beggar. She warns him that she is
a tiger when she is “famished” and then pokes him with her chopstick and sends
him on his way. He speaks a curse on her
that she will “be what you say you are.”
The curse takes shape in a variety of forms as the old woman learns a
valuable lesson about greed and selfishness.
Told in a mixture of prose and verse, with whimsical watercolor
illustrations, readers will be on the edge of their seat to see what happens to
the old woman.
Critical Analysis:
Yep uses his award-winning storytelling techniques to relay
this tale in spirited narrative along with beautifully rhyming couplets and
verse. The tale is humorous, yet teaches
an important lesson about selfishness and greed. The story is an accurate interpretation of a
folk song containing rhythm and detail and Yep accurately portrays the
traditional tale without being stereotypical.
Roth’s colorful, double-page, watercolor illustrations propel the story
forward and will delight readers with whimsical scenes throughout the tale. His
attention to detail is evident in the expressions on the faces in each scene -
both in the animals and the humans. A gripping page-turner, this story is one
children and adults will beg to read again.
Review Excerpts:
“Full
of color and motion, Roth's illustrations partner Yep's spirited storytelling
for a rollicking good read.” ~Publishers
Weekly
“Yep's
rollicking narrative, interspersed with couplets and verse, is smooth and
crisp. He has an ear for rhythm and adds just enough detail to enhance the
tale.” ~School Library Journal
Connections:
** Other tales from China:
The Dragon Prince: A
Chinese Beauty & the Beast Tale by Laurence Yep, ill. by Kam Mak
Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella
Story from China by Ai-Ling Louie
The Man Who Tricked a
Ghost by Laurence Yep, ill. by Isadore Seltzer
The Khan’s Daughter: A
Mongolian Folk Tale by Laurence Yep, ill. by Jean Tseng and Mou-Sien Tseng
** A book about Laurence Yep:
Meet Laurence Yep
(About the Author) by Alice B. McGinty
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