Our theme for this month’s Favorite Holiday Books. (Please feel free to share any holiday resources, not just winter holidays.) The theme is only a suggestion. Diverse posts on alternate topics are always welcome.
Chinese New Year is January 28th, 2017 but the Japanese and Koreans celebrate New Year on January 1st. It’s a little confusing for my kids given that they are half Korean, and one quarter Chinese and Japanese American.
I wanted to share a new Chinese New Book that I just added to my Chinese New Year book list. It’s an update to my Top 10: Chinese New Year Books. This list will also be in a new eBook for Multicultural Children’s Book Day that we are publishing as a fundraiser.
The Nian Monster by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Alina Chau
The ancient legend of the Nian monster gives background to why Chinese New Year is celebrated with the color red, loud noises and fire. XingLing knows about the Nian Monster but is shocked to see it appear in Shanghai, ready to devour her and her city. She uses her wits to outsmart the Nian monster. The special foods used to celebrate Chinese New Year also have a role to play in defeating the Nian monster. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
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My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award longlist
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Thank you for sharing The Nian Monster and including it in the #DiverseKidLit linkup!
I love your new Chinese New Year story Andrea. It’s so original. There aren’t any other Chinese New Year books like this one; kind of a folk tale and a Chinese New Year story! Will be posting on it on my Instagram soon! Chinese New Year is coming up fast; year of the Rooster!