The Chinese New Year Helper

September 30, 2024
A child attempts to assist with Chinese New Year celebrations in this bustling holiday picture book. As Jia’s family prepares for the new year at their business, Chinatown’s biggest restaurant, Jia offers assistance to each member. But every time—in the kitchen, dining room, and even outside—the child is met with the same answer: “You are too young.” In a sour mood, Jia continues to feel disappointment as friends and family arrive, and even a sumptuous feast (“dumplings, fish, meatballs, rice cakes, and eight treasure rice puddings”) isn’t enough to lift the mood. But when the lion dancers arrive, clad in a brilliant golden costume, Jia is thrilled—and even more so when the lion dancers swoop the child up and into the festivities. Against the backdrop of Hsu’s gouache and digital art, which depicts myriad cultural details, Compestine uses easy, descriptive prose to detail a series of traditions while affirming the power of involving children at any age. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. An author’s note concludes. Ages 3–7.