Seasonal Picture Book: A New Year’s Reunion

2nd February 2021

Lunar New Year is just around the corner! With the pandemic in the past year, we are looking forward to a new start in 2021. My book recommendation is A New Year’s Reunion, a picture book that recalls all my fondest childhood memories during Lunar New Year. This Chinese original picture book is suitable for children ages 3 and above. Written by Yu Li-Qiong and illustrated by Zhu Cheng-Liang, the title received the Feng ZiKai Chinese Children’s Picture Book Award in 2010 and the New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2011. Children can live and experience the traditional Chinese culture and Lunar New Year festivities through this vibrant publication!

This story reflects the life of an ordinary Chinese family. Mao Mao’s father is a construction worker who only returns home once a year during Lunar New Year. This year Papa came home bearing gifts, an adorable hat for Mao Mao, and a new jacket for Mother. Mao Mao is a bit shy at first, but the familiar feelings quickly come back after some quality family time.

Papa takes beloved little Mao Mao to watch the dragon dance from high above. He hides a lucky coin, a symbol of blessings and good luck, in her sweet dumpling soup for Mao Mao to dish out. We no longer have this practice anymore because of hygienic reasons. Now in northern China, we celebrate by wrapping dumplings and in southern China, we eat delicious rice cakes. The author describes many Chinese customs, such as new haircuts and clothes for the New Year, enjoying dragon dance, decorating with red lanterns and spring festival couplets, and having sweet dumplings for dessert. All these traditions represent turning over a new leaf and hope for the year ahead. Soon it’s time for Papa to leave, and Mao Mao gives him the lucky coin and the family awaits the next time they meet again.

This colorful tale combines Chinese traditions, modern family life, and depicting a children’s psychological state in one. Every child who misses their family members when they are away is bound to resonate with Mao Mao. The lucky coin in the dumplings symbolizes the father-daughter bonding. As they move on with their life, both Papa and daughter will constantly be reminded how lucky they are to have one another!

It is common for adults in the countryside to be away for work all year round, and around a billion children await their parents to return home. We salute the thousands of medical staff and army who have been separated from their family as they are fighting at the frontline of the pandemic in the past year. Distance makes the heart grow fonder and reminds us not to let a minute of the precious time together be wasted. We truly wish for all children to be with their Papa and Mama during this holiday, and recommend this illustrated tale as a gift to children for Chinese New Year.

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Photo Credit:
1. https://www.163.com/dy/article/FUVAPH3C0538JAI5.html
2. https://www.sohu.com/a/207397023_355207