heisereads's review against another edition
4.0
Charming. Outwitting the Nian Monster. Incorporates, and authors note explains more about, Chinese New Year traditions.
amysutton's review against another edition
4.0
Xingling is a clever little girl who finds a way to keep the Nian Monster from devouring the city for the Chinese New Year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wa_C1iU-tI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wa_C1iU-tI
emeelee's review against another edition
5.0
The illustrations are so vibrant and beautiful. The story is very well told, with the little girl tricking the Nian Monster every day through the Chinese New Year celebrations. As the story goes along, it teaches the reader things about the holiday and the legends surrounding it, and more about Chinese culture.
sandienease's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t think it would be fair to give this five stars as my knowledge on this festival is limited. I thought the book was cute though. It follows the story of a little girl preparing for the new year celebration with her family when the legendary Nian monster appears. From my knowledge this is a telling of coming across the monster after the original legend took place, so basing it on the original legend seems silly, to me. The little girl then tries to outwit the monster from eating her, and destroying her city.
The illustrations were lovely, and the story was cute. At the end has a summarized page explaining the symbolism of things worn, eaten and decorations used during the Lunar New Year for a bit of extended learning.
The illustrations were lovely, and the story was cute. At the end has a summarized page explaining the symbolism of things worn, eaten and decorations used during the Lunar New Year for a bit of extended learning.
scostner's review against another edition
3.0
Anyone looking for multicultural books to add to their collections - this is one your children, students, or patrons will enjoy. In a display of cleverness reminiscent of the Three Billy Goats Gruff, the little heroine of the story, Xingling, outwits the Nian Monster and avoids being eaten up. When the monster appears during the preparations for Chinese New Year, Xingling comes up with one trick after another to prevent him from turning her into "a tasty appetizer." And while we watch and read about each of her plans, we also see the details of the festival going on around her. Everything from red decorations, fire crackers, long-life noodles, rice cakes, and dragon dancers fill the pages with color and life.
The author's note explains the legend of the Nian Monster, and the traditions of Chinese New Year. Descriptions of the foods eaten during the celebration and other cultural tidbits help to answer questions that young readers may have after reading the story. The artwork has an anime feel to it that will also appeal to youngsters.
The author's note explains the legend of the Nian Monster, and the traditions of Chinese New Year. Descriptions of the foods eaten during the celebration and other cultural tidbits help to answer questions that young readers may have after reading the story. The artwork has an anime feel to it that will also appeal to youngsters.
calistareads's review against another edition
5.0
Chinese New Year has so many traditions and stories. This seems to be a new story built upon an old one. For Chinese New Year they used loud gongs and noises, fire and the color red to scare away the horrible monster Nian who can devour whole villages in one gulp.
This present year a girl is getting ready for New Years when Nian comes back and declares that he doesn’t care about red or fire, he is hungry. So the sly girl tells him ok, but you need to eat noodles for long life first and then he can eat her and the city. So he does and she helps fix up a huge bowl of noodles that fill up the monster. So, it’s 3 meals in a row and then she sits him on a seat with fireworks to shot him in the sky. I thought the story was very well done and had lots of cunning from the little girl. I like it when characters show cunning and I think the kids like it too as they themselves like to be sly and cunning.
The nephew enjoyed the monster in this and he thought the story worthy of 5 stars while the niece enjoyed the cool calm of the little girl and she gave this 4 stars. The artwork is nice and it’s great to find out more about Chinese New Year.
May you have much prosperity and rest in the Year of the Pig.
This present year a girl is getting ready for New Years when Nian comes back and declares that he doesn’t care about red or fire, he is hungry. So the sly girl tells him ok, but you need to eat noodles for long life first and then he can eat her and the city. So he does and she helps fix up a huge bowl of noodles that fill up the monster. So, it’s 3 meals in a row and then she sits him on a seat with fireworks to shot him in the sky. I thought the story was very well done and had lots of cunning from the little girl. I like it when characters show cunning and I think the kids like it too as they themselves like to be sly and cunning.
The nephew enjoyed the monster in this and he thought the story worthy of 5 stars while the niece enjoyed the cool calm of the little girl and she gave this 4 stars. The artwork is nice and it’s great to find out more about Chinese New Year.
May you have much prosperity and rest in the Year of the Pig.
reddjena's review against another edition
5.0
I loved the story, the wit, the art... everything! Such a fun book that tells the story of Chinese New Year ;)
kristinajean's review against another edition
4.0
AN excellent Chinese New Year tale! I learned a lot about this holiday (of which, admittedly, I knew nothing before reading this book). This folk lore is well-written and accompanied by animation-style characters (THOSE EYES!), and what feels like watercolor or Chinese ink on rice paper.
ohsoyhappy's review against another edition
5.0
I am completely in love with this book! The illustrations are gorgeous watercolor, the story is witty, incorporates Chinese food, traditions, and the folklore of the Nian monster. This is a great way to teach young ones about Chinese culture while keeping them entertained at the same time :)