Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival (Chinese Festivals)

by Sanmu. Tang

Other authorsMina. Tenison
2007

Status

Available

Call number

394.26951

Collection

Publication

New York : Better Link Press, c2007.

Description

In these charming volumes, Little Mei asks her grandfather about each of the four different Chinese celebrations represented. He tells her the stories of Nian and the monster Xi (Chinese New Year); Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet who loved his kingdom (Dragon Boat Festival); the Jade Emperor of Heaven who ordered the earth to be destroyed by fire (Lantern Festival); and Hou Yi who shot down the suns (Mid-Autumn Festival). InCelebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival Little Mei wants to know why her family members have all come together this evening. Grandpa tells her the story of Hou Yi who shot down the suns and his wife, Chang'e, who floats to the moon. Includes a quick recipe for moon cakes.

User reviews

LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Little Mei is excited to welcome her aunt and uncle and cousin to her house in this Chinese picture-book, and asks her father about the holiday they are celebrating. He explains that it is the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, when the moon is at its roundest, symbolizing the wholeness of the family, and
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he relates the folktale of the archer Houyi and his wife Chang'e, who became the maiden in the moon. Granny then claims Little Mei and her cousin Maomao, explaining how mooncakes are made, after which the family enjoy their feast together...

Although not the first picture-book I have read devoted to the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, Sanmu Tang's Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival is the first I have encountered that is from China itself. Originally published in Shanghai, it was translated into English by Mina Tenison, who also worked on some of Tang's other picture-books about various Chinese festivals. It pairs a simple text with cute illustrations, and follows a pattern I have noticed in books about this festival, including both some folkloric content and a story about a contemporary family's celebrations. Although I don't know that it is a favorite, when it comes to Mid-Autumn Moon Festival books - I prefer titles like Loretta Seto's Mooncakes or Arlene Chan's The Moon Festival: A Chinese Mid-Autumn Celebration - this is one I'd still recommend, in the absence of other titles, to picture-book readers looking for stories about this subject.
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Language

Original language

Chinese

Physical description

20 cm

ISBN

9781602209695

Local notes

Celebrating the mid-autumn festival
Celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival

Barcode

154800280
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