Mooncakes Mean Family

May 15, 2024
A family of rabbits celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival. Sisters Jade and Crystal spend the morning with Mom making mooncakes, which the family then brings to Grandma and Grandpa's house. There, Jade and Crystal offer their grandparents tea, mooncakes, and fruit baskets, eat a big dinner of lotus root, chestnuts, and mushrooms, and enjoy the gardens and full moon--while eating their favorite mooncakes. Along the way, Shum smoothly incorporates information about this Chinese holiday. When Crystal asks what mooncakes are made from, Mom responds, "Lotus seed paste...with a yummy salted egg yolk in the center to represent the moon." She explains that the Mid-Autumn Festival is a celebration of the harvest and that the moon that rises at this time represents family. Readers will learn about traditional activities and games, such as the Chinese yo-yo. As the day comes to an end, Jade gazes up at the night sky. Though Auntie and Uncle Liu weren't able to fly in this year to celebrate, Jade is happy, "knowing her family far away is looking at the same moon." Large, simple cartoon illustrations of rabbits (each of whom is a different color) and concise text (just a few sentences per page) make for a cozy introduction to the Mid-Autumn Festival. Shum gently conveys the warmth and joy of this celebration; he wraps up with a retelling of the legend of Change'e, the moon goddess. An adorable and informative introduction to a beloved Chinese holiday. (Picture book. 3-7)

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June 28, 2024

PreS-Gr 2-Sisters Jade and Crystal are excited to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with their family. After helping their mother make mooncakes and visiting their grandparents, they must wait patiently until the moon is shining bright before finally being able to eat the delicious dessert. While eating, they think of family members who are far away and can't join the party but are looking at the same full moon. Information about mooncakes and the holiday is included in the text, making this a fun teaching tool for children who are not familiar with the holiday. Back matter adds more explanation to the holiday, but no mooncake recipe. Perhaps as a nod to the Chinese saying about a rabbit in the moon instead of an old man, all characters are anthropomorphic bunnies. Holiday greetings are given in transliterated Mandarin Chinese. VERDICT A cute and accessible introduction to the Mid-Autumn Festival.-Jennifer Rothschild

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