by Ying Chang Compestine
Illustrated by Paula Pang
4 stars
A sweet story about the animals of the Chinese zodiac preparing for a party.
While the book is simple, it is a pleasure to read, especially for a young audience. The illustrations are delightful. Works well for discussing the Chinese zodiac, various animals, action labels, and ingredients.
The backmatter contains an Author’s Note with information on the tradition of serving long noodles on birthdays, the legend and characteristics of the animals of the Chinese zodiac, and a recipe for dragon beard noodles. The opening page lists years of each animal sign starting from 1998, allowing young readers to find the animal of their birth year and the corresponding characteristics.
A wonderful read with charming visuals and simple text.