The Runaway Rice Cake - Hardcover

Compestine, Ying Chang

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0689829728 ISBN 13: 9780689829727

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2001

Synopsis

It's the Chinese New Year, and the Chang Family has only enough rice flour to make one nián-gão, a special New Year's rice cake, for the entire family to eat. But this delicious little nián-gão has other ideas. "Ai yo! I don't think so!" it cries, coming to life and escaping.
Ming, Cong, little Da and their parents chase the nián-gão all over the village until it runs into a hungry, old woman and sends her tumbling to the ground. Though Da is a small boy, his heart is big enough to share the treat with her, even though that leaves Da's family with nothing to eat for their own celebration. But the Changs' generosity doesn't go unnoticed. When they return home, they find the Kitchen God has left a wonderful surprise for them.
Ying Chang Compestine's heartwarming story conveys an important and poignant message about sharing and compassion. Tungwai Chau's soft and evocative illustrations complete this tender holiday story.

About this title

About the Author

Ying Chang Compestine was born in Wuhan, China, and came to the U.S. when she was twenty-three. Growing up in China during the lean years of the Cultural Revolution, Ying often dreamed of the kind of Chinese New Year celebrated in this book. Aside from playing with her young son and his friends, Ying loves to write, cook, eat, and travel. Consequently, she spends a lot of time writing stories for children and cookbooks for adults. She lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her husband and son.

Reviews

K-Gr 4-A tale of tenderness and sharing. It is Chinese New Year's Eve, and the Chang family is preparing to celebrate the holiday. Although they have very little food, they have enough rice flour to make one New Year's rice cake. However, when the ni n-gao is cooked, it comes to life, pops out of the pan, and leads the Changs on a merry chase through the village. The errant cake is finally caught after it collides with an old woman and knocks her to the ground. When the family discovers that she hasn't eaten for several days, the youngest son suggests that they share the cake with her. Their generosity is later rewarded, as several villagers bearing gifts of food arrive at the Chang house. Magically, more and more food appears on the table, until there is enough for everyone to eat. Figurative drawings, while reminiscent of the art in various retellings of "The Gingerbread Boy," have a softer and more whimsical nature. Each page combines a vibrancy of color with more muted background tones. A brief pronunciation guide, along with information about the New Year and two recipes, extends the story. A welcome addition to stories such as Karen Chinn's Sam and the Lucky Money (Lee & Low, 1995) and Leo Politi's classic Moy Moy (Scribner, 1960; o.p.), which highlight other aspects of this holiday.-Tina Hudak, St. Bernard's School, Riverdale, MD

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Ages 3-8. As part of the family's New Year's Eve celebration, Momma Chang has cooked the family's only nian-gao or rice cake. When she prepares to cut it, the rice cake comes to life, jumps out of the pan, and runs away. It runs by various animals and people, mocking them, until it collides with a ravenous old woman. Although hungry themselves, the Changs give her their lone rice cake, then discover their own feast, thanks to their neighbors' charity and magic. Although it contains a hodge-podge of familiar elements, this original story lacks the cohesiveness of folklore. Acrylic illustrations portray traditional Chinese clothing and background with mastery, but human faces are awkwardly drawn. Information about the Chinese New Year and recipes for baked and steamed nian-gao are appended. Despite weaknesses, many libraries will want to add this, considering the dearth of material about Chinese New Year. Linda Perkins
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0689829728
• ISBN 13: 9780689829727
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Chau Tungwai
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 40