There’s a Book for That: Lunar New Year

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Welcome Lunar New Year which begins on January 22nd. More than a billion people will celebrate The Year of the Rabbit – or the Year of the Cat, depending on which cultural traditions they follow.  The Lunar New Year marks the first new moon of the lunisolar calendar traditional to many Asian countries. To honor the occasion, we offer the following recent and acclaimed fiction and nonfiction for all ages. Visit here for more information from PBS.

 

The Chinese Groove by Kathryn MaTHE CHINESE GROOVE: A NOVEL by Kathryn Ma

Anne Tyler meets Jade Chang in this buoyant, good-hearted, and sharply written novel about a blithely optimistic immigrant with big dreams, dire prospects, and a fractured extended family in need of his help—even if they don’t know it yet.

 

 

1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows by Ai Weiwei1000 YEARS OF JOYS AND SORROWS: A MEMOIR by Ai Weiwei: Translated by Allan H. Barr

In Ai Weiwei’s memoir, “one of the most important artists working in the world today” (Financial Times) tells a century-long epic tale of China through the story of his own extraordinary life and the legacy of his father, the nation’s most celebrated poet.

 

 

A Map for the Missing by Belinda Huijuan TangA MAP FOR THE MISSING: A NOVEL by Belinda Huijuan Tang

An epic, mesmerizing debut novel set against a rapidly changing post–Cultural Revolution China, A Map for the Missing reckons with the costs of pursuing one’s dreams and the lives we leave behind

 

 

The Mermaid from Jeju by Sumi HahnTHE MERMAID FROM JEJU: A NOVEL by Sumi Hahn

Inspired by true events on Korea’s Jeju Island, Sumi Hahn’s “entrancing [debut] novel, brimming with lyricism and magic” (Jennifer Rosner, The Yellow Bird Sings) explores what it means to truly love in the wake of devastation.

 

 

A captivating novel about an immigrant Vietnamese family who settles in New Orleans and struggles to remain connected to one another as their lives are inextricably reshaped. This stunning debut is “vast in scale and ambition, while luscious and inviting … in its intimacy” (The New York Times Book Review).

 

 

The Boy and the Dog by Seishu HaseTHE BOY AND THE DOG: A NOVEL by Seishu Hase;Translated by Alison Watts

Following a devastating earthquake and tsunami, a young man in Japan finds a stray dog outside a convenience store. The dog’s tag says “Tamon,” a name evocative of the guardian deity of the north. The man decides to keep Tamon, becoming the first in a series of owners on the dog’s five-year journey to find his beloved first owner, Hikaru, a boy who has not spoken since the tsunami. An agent of fate, Tamon is a gift to everyone who welcomes him into their life.

 

Heart of Fire by Mazie K. HironoHEART OF FIRE: AN IMMIGRANT DAUGHTER’S STORY by Mazie K. Hirono

Mazie Hirono is one of the most fiercely outspoken Democrats in Congress, but her journey to the U.S. Senate was far from likely. Raised on a rice farm in rural Japan, she was seven years old when her mother, Laura, left her abusive husband and sailed with her two elder children to Hawaii in search of a better life. Though the girl then known as “Keiko” did not speak or read English when she entered first grade, she would go on to serve as a state representative and as Hawaii’s lieutenant governor before winning election to Congress in 2006.

 

First Generation by Frankie GawFIRST GENERATION: RECIPES FROM MY TAIWANESE-AMERICAN HOME [A COOKBOOK] by Frankie Gaw

In First Generation, Frankie Gaw of Little Fat Boy presents a tribute to Taiwanese home cooking. With dishes passed down from generations of family, Frankie introduces a deeply personal and essential collection of recipes inspired by his multicultural experience, melding the flavors of suburban America with the ingredients and techniques his parents grew up with.

 

The Korean Vegan Cookbook by Joanne Lee MolinaroTHE KOREAN VEGAN COOKBOOK REFLECTIONS AND RECIPES FROM OMMA’S KITCHEN by Joanne Lee Molinaro

Joanne Lee Molinaro has captivated millions of fans with her powerfully moving personal tales of love, family, and food. In her debut cookbook, she shares a collection of her favorite Korean dishes, some traditional and some reimagined, as well as poignant narrative snapshots that have shaped her family history. The Korean Vegan Cookbook is a rich portrait of the immigrant experience with life lessons that are universal. It celebrates how deeply food and the ones we love shape our identity.

 

The Woks of Life by Bill Leung, Kaitlin Leung, Judy Leung and Sarah LeungTHE WOKS OF LIFE: RECIPES TO KNOW AND LOVE FROM A CHINESE AMERICAN FAMILY: A COOKBOOK by Bill Leung, Kaitlin Leung, Judy Leung, Sarah Leung

The family behind the acclaimed blog The Woks of Life shares 100 of their favorite home-cooked and restaurant-style Chinese recipes.  Whether you’re new to Chinese cooking or you already dabble in bean paste and chili oil, you’ll find inspiration from this chorus of voices, and trustworthy recipes that will become a part of your family story, too.

 

FOR YOUNGER READERS

The Night Before Lunar New Year by Natasha Wing and Lingfeng HoTHE NIGHT BEFORE LUNAR NEW YEAR by Natasha Wing, Lingfeng Ho, Amy Wummer

It’s the night before Lunar New Year, and a little girl is excited for all of the celebrations to come. She’s prepared dumplings with her mom, bought a new dress in Chinatown, and even helped scare mythical beast Nian away with her cousins and brother. There’s only one problem: she’s a bit nervous about all of the loud noises at the upcoming Lunar New Year Parade. Will she overcome her fears?

 

Chinese New Year Colors by Richard LoCHINESE NEW YEAR COLORS by Richard Lo

This vibrant, simple, and highly graphic bilingual book is the perfect introduction to Chinese and English words for colors as it honors one of the biggest holidays around the world. Includes informative back matter.

 

 

The 12 Days of Lunar New Year by Jenna LetticeTHE 12 DAYS OF LUNAR NEW YEAR by Jenna Lettice; Illustrated by Colleen Madden

This cheery addition to the 12 Days series celebrates tradition, culture, and family in the lead-up to Lunar New Year! Young readers and their caregivers will enjoy counting all the different ways they can engage with their communities and honor their ancestors. This simple rhyming story is paired with warm illustrations and a full page of stickers, making these books the perfect gift for kids.

For more information on these and related titles visit Lunar New Year

Penguin Random House

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Her fiction writing has received the Author / Ambassador at Library Journal Self-e Authors, Winner Queen of the West Reader Favorite Award, Amazon Bestseller - Historical, Double finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the Mystery and Humorous Categories. Writing humorous cozy mysteries and romantic comedy, Jocie can find humor in most everything, even when she shouldn't. She lives in the Midwest on Dust Bunny Farm with her family.