The Chinese New Year Helper

by Ying Chang Compestine, Ginnie Hsu (illustrator)

A young girl finds an exciting role for herself at the Chinese New Year celebration in her family’s restaurant. At last, she isn’t being told that she’s too young to help!Jia’s family is busy preparing for the Chinese New Year feast at their restaurant in Chinatown, and Jia wants to take part. But each time she tries to help she’s told that she’s too too young to be in the kitchen, too young to light the lanterns, too young to carry the plates. And then the feast begins, and something wonderful happens. When Jia is scolded for getting too close to the exciting lion dance, one of the dancers swoops her up and into the costume, and suddenly she’s a part of the performance—a crucial part that saves the show. Never again does her family tell her that she’s too young to help!

Awards:

Publishers Weekly's 2024 Holiday Books for Kids and Teens

Book Riot's December 2024 Best New Picture Books

Reviews:

"...Celebratory and Inspiring."
— Kirkus
​
"Culturally specific details will be recognizable to families...and Jia's emotional journey will make this doubly useful for SEL collections."
— Booklist

"Against the backdrop of Hsu’s gouache and digital art, which depicts myriad cultural details, Compestine uses easy, descriptive prose to detail a series of traditions while affirming the power of involving children at any age."
— Publishers Weekly

"An author’s note on Chinese New Year and playful end pages completes the book. A solid Chinese New Year tale with delightful illustrations."
— School Library Journal

Genres: Picture Books, Holiday, Childrens, Family, Asian Literature

40 pages, Hardcover

Published December 17, 2024

About the author

A leading national authority on culture and cuisine, award-winning author, and former food editor for Martha Stewart's Whole Living magazine, Ying Chang Compestine has written 27 books across multiple genres, including picture books, YA novels, and healthy adult cookbooks. She has hosted cooking shows, worked as a food editor for Martha Stewart’s Body+Soul, and was a spokesperson for Nestle Maggi and Celestial Seasonings.

Her novel "Revolution is Not a Dinner Party" and her memoir "Growing Up Under a Red Flag" recount her childhood during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. These works have received awards globally and high praise from prestigious media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and Publisher's Weekly. Her novel "A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts" is currently being adapted into an animated TV series.

Named one of the "50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading" by The Author's Show, her books have sold worldwide in multiple languages. Endorsed by Dr. Andrew Weil, her cookbook "Cooking with an Asian Accent" has been described as “a contemporary new cuisine.”

Ying believes food can be both healthy and delicious and that healthy eating is the key to a long, happy life. By integrating her background into her recipe creation, she features the three most critical Asian principles of food in her dishes: satisfaction of the senses, yin-yang balance, and medicinal properties.

In addition to writing, Ying has been a sought-after keynote speaker for high-end cruise ships, private jets, and resorts, including The World Residences at Sea, Crystal, Silver Sea, Viking, TCS World Travel, and Canyon Ranch. Ying is also frequently invited to speak at schools and conferences worldwide to share her journey as a writer—how her life in Wuhan, China, inspired her work—and to promote healthy eating and living. Her website is www.yingc.com

Reviews

[Jasmine from How Useful It Is · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you PRHAudio for the complimentary audiobook!

Listened to this audiobook with my toddler at bedtime. Jia's family is getting ready for the Lunar New Year celebration. Jia wanted to help. Jia's dad said no, that she's too young to help in the kitchen. Jia's mom said no, that she's too young to help with the plates. Jia's grandma said no, that she's too young to help light the lanterns. Jia's brother said no, that she's too young to help move the big chairs. Jia was frustrated. Relatives arrived. The food was brought out. Then dragon dance began. Jia was excited so she ran to the dragon dancers. They let Jia help because they needed someone small enough to put the hands through the dragon mouth to catch the cabbage. Jia climbed on the dancers shoulders underneath the dragon costume to perform. Everyone laughed and had fun.

At the end of the book, there are information about the meaning of dragon dancing and the use of cabbage. Great audiobook and illustrations!

[Our Weekend Is Booked · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading the book The Chinese New Year Helper brought me back to my childhood and how I wanted to help my family prepare for holiday celebrations. This delightful picture book is about a young girl named Jia who wants to help her family with the Chinese New Year celebration at their restaurant. Each time Jia offers to help, she is told she is too young. Readers can empathize with Jia's frustration as her offer to help is rejected. Things turn around when the lion dancers arrive. They have Jia help them with the most important parts of the celebration.


What I Liked: I find reading about all of the Chinese New Year traditions like the lion dance and the lanterns fascinating. This story is not only about Chinese New Year, but also about how Jai feels when her family doesn't need her help. A lot of young readers will relate to that issue. The vivid illustrations enhance the story and make it stand out.

What Left Me Wanting More: I appreciate stories that have a glossary to help with the pronouniciation of words I am not familiar with. This did not have one so I had to look up how to pronounce Jai's name. Those small details can make a difference.

The Chinese New Year Helper is a sweet story that teaches you the importance of Chinese New Year and family.

This review first appeared on YA Books Central and can be found here: https://yabookscentral.com/the-chines...

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jia's family is busy preparing for Chinese New Year at their restaurant in Chinatown. Jia wants to help but everyone says she is too small or too young. Poor Jia! Frustrated and sad, Jia sits down to eat at the family table. She is disappointed that no one will let her help but she is also excited because the lion has arrived for the lion dance!
When she tries to pet the lion, she is once again admonished about being too little. But then... the lion swallows her and the person in the head invites Jia to ride on her shoulders and catch the cabbage! It's not easy - but Jia finally snags the leafy green hanging from the stick. She rips it apart and tosses the pieces into the crowd. Jia's little hands were just the right size to fit through the lion's mouth. Jia's family is proud of her and decide that maybe she is just the right size to to help after all!
The author includes an informative note at the end. She explains Chinese New Year and lion dancing. Also that Jia is pronounced "jah".

I suggest pairing this one with the early reader We Are Lion Dancers by Benson Shum. It will broaden your knowledge of lion dancing which is really fascinating!

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

As Jia’s family in Chinatown prepares for Chinese New Year, Jia wants to help but everyone says she is too little. She can’t help prepare food at the restaurant, or with the decorations, or the furniture. Is there any way she can help?

I don’t know how many Chinese New Year books I’ve read at this point, but this was the very first one that talked about feeding a cabbage to the lion during the lion dance. I’d never heard of this tradition before. It was interesting to learn about it through the story and the author’s note in the back. Little kids will relate to Jia feeling too young to be helpful, though I would’ve found a way to put her to work (unless she was one of those kids who is extremely accident prone). The story does encourage little ones to also think of things they can do that big people/big kids can’t do.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Chinese New Year and Jia's parents are throwing a celebration in their restaurant. Little Jia wants to help out with all the work that needs to be done, but everyone keeps saying that she is too little. But when the lion dance starts, there is one thing that Jia can do!

With all the hustle and bustle of preparation, I could totally see all the adults pushing Jia aside when she offers to help out. The fun part of the book for me was that I had never known about a cabbage being used in the lion dance before. That was a fun detail to learn about and the explanation in the back of the book details why a cabbage is traditionally a part of the dance.

[Mrs.MakesReadingFun · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is such a sweet celebration of feeling ready to help… even when the grown ups think you are still too little.

Jia desperately wants to be part of her family’s Chinese New Year preparations at their restaurant in Chinatown. She tries to help in the kitchen, with the lanterns, and with serving, but every time she hears the same thing. Too young.

And then the feast begins, the lion dance starts, and Jia finds herself in the middle of the action in the most unexpected way. What follows is a joyful moment where she becomes an essential part of the celebration and proves that she is more capable than anyone realized.

I loved how this story highlights children wanting responsibility, wanting to contribute, and finally getting the chance to shine. The bustling restaurant setting, the decorations, and especially the lion dance bring so much movement and excitement to the pages.

A wonderful picture book for classrooms and families to share during Lunar New Year, and a lovely reminder that sometimes kids are more ready than we think.

Visit my teachers pay teachers link to see some great Lunar New Year activities for the classroom or school library: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/P...

[Robbi C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, clear storyline and artwork makes this a nice choice for younger kids but don’t let let the simplicity fool you! Compestine and Hsu work together brilliantly to depict the frustration a young girl feels when everyone around her believes she is too small to help with any of the preparations for the new year celebrations. Kids will be able to recognize the feelings of joy, anticipation and frustration plus it’s a fun book to read for the Chinese new year, too! Very cute!

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

1-2 long sentences per page. About a Chinese girl named Jia (Jah) that is told she is too little to help with the Chinese New Year preparations, but she ends up helping with the lion dance and having a fun time. The people illustrations are a bit rough/not detailed, but the lion costume and the Chinese decorations are detailed and bright red/yellows.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

We see lots of different preparations for New Year that Jia can't help with, but she can help with the lion dance.

The author's note about all the rehearsal for the dance inspiring this was kind of weird to me, though, when Jia ends up as a part of things without any planning.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute New Year’s celebration with a simple reminder that all persons large and small can be helpful and add to the joy of the day.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young girl wants to help with the Chinese New Year preparations, but everyone thinks she is too young and too small to help. But perhaps there is a special way she can help.