Bibliographic Data
Simonds, Nina, Leslie Swartz, and The Children's Museum of Boston. 2002. Moonbeams, Dumplings, & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes. New York: Harcourt, Inc.
In this compilation book, the reader is given background information on five holidays and festivals that occur in accordance with the moon cycle. Each festival and holiday includes food recipes to prepare, games to play, and decorations to make. The four festivals and holidays each have an accompanying folktale to explain why the Chinese celebrate that day. The holidays and festivals are Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival, Qing Ming and the Cold Foods Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. The five short tales convey information about Chinese religious beliefs, such as having a Kitchen God, a Jade Emperor, a River God, and a Goddess of the Moon. The Chinese have traditional ways to celebrate each holiday, and the tales explain how those traditions came to be. Families can read and enjoy the stories together followed by quality time and fun making the recipes and playing games.
Critical Analysis
Illustrations are provided by Meilo So. The paintings and drawings correlate with specific sections of text. They are also included with recipes, decorations and games to depict what each looks like. All of the illustrations are brightly painted with a carefree spirit, evident in the watercolor paintings.
The stories read easily and I can imagine how they well they must sound told orally. The authors took great care in researching and selecting the stories to include as well as remaining true to the cultural identity of the tales. The authors created a compilation that is welcoming for all family members to enjoy together. The inclusion of a pronunciation guide at the end of the book is helpful for pronouncing Chinese words. An additional feature is the addition of resources for adults and young readers, also located at the end of the book. With each recipe, game or decoration, the authors provide further background information to help readers understand their purpose, objective, or tradition. Every title, from story to decoration, is written in English and Chinese calligraphy, adding an authentic feel to the whole book.
Awards and Reviews
*School Library Journal: Most books for young readers about Chinese holidays stress Chinese New Year; only two others feature the full range of annual festivals. . .Moonbeams is a useful, visually appealing addition to any holiday collection.
*Booklist: This brightly illustrated, large-format book introduces Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival, Qing Ming and the Cold Foods Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. . .The activities--riddles to tell and paper lanterns to make, among them--look like fun for young people. © American Library Association.
Connections
*Have craft materials on hand to make a few of the crafts described in the book.
*Choose one of the festivals to recognize at the appropriate time of year. Play the games and make the decorations associated with the festival or holiday. Host a celebration in the library one afternoon after school and enlist parent volunteers to provide snacks that are described in the book (make sure to warn of any food allergies by listing possible allergens with the different food choices and always check district policy on foods provided to students even if after school hours). Prepare an oral storytelling of the folktale associated with the holiday/festival or have students perform it in a Reader's Theatre for the audience.
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