Publisher's Weekly Review
Wang's story begins as Xingling and her grandmother hang red paper decorations for the Chinese New Year in Shanghai. Po Po explains that the Nian Monster once plagued China by eating whole villages. Since the monster is afraid of "loud sounds, fire, and the color red," the decorations prevent its return. The Nian Monster seems no more than a fantasy, but as Xingling cooks, he leaps onto the family's balcony. "I have come to devour this city!" he roars, causing buildings to shudder. Xingling turns out to be a cool-headed hero. "Have a bowl of long-life noodles first," she advises the monster. "If you live longer, you can conquer more cities." More crafty culinary thinking slows Nian down further (bony fish, sticky glutinous rice), and a fireworks scheme sends him packing. Wang's story thrills but doesn't threaten: Chau's wonderfully vivid watercolors give the monster doe eyes and a round body that make him seem like a cranky, overgrown teddy bear, and Wang shares cultural information about the Chinese New Year with the lightest of touches. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary. Illustrator's agent: Justin Rucker, Shannon Associates. (Dec.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
A little girl in Shanghai outwits a Lunar New Year monster.Xingling is grocery shopping with her grandmother days before the Chinese New Year festivities are to begin. Curious about all the red decorations, she learns that once upon a time there was a very hungry monster who threatened villages. The monster, fortunately, had three fearsloud sounds, fire, and the color redand the Chinese learned how to keep safe from it. Unfortunately, the monster, named Nian, soon appears in Shanghai very hungry and very unperturbed by ancient customs. Xingling cleverly finds three new, traditional means to defeat Nian: a bowl containing the longest noodle in China (which sends him snoozing), bony milkfish (which hurts his throat), and a rice cake made with very sticky rice (which glues his jaws together). Wang brings together traditional storytelling elements in her talethree tasks and repetition of phrasesin this contemporary setting of a Chinese New Year story. However, the writing is pedestrian and will not hold up to multiple readings. The explanation that nian means either year or sticky comes only in the authors note. Chaus artwork is colorful but very busy; Xingling is drawn with giant, manga-style eyes, though the other Chinese characters have simple ink-dot eyes. Also, there is no mention of which year of the 12-year cycle is being celebrated. Ai yanot the happiest New Year tale. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
While preparing for Chinese New Year, Xingling's grandmother Po Po tells her about the Nian Monster, who ate entire villages until people learned his weaknesses: loud sounds, fire, and the color red. Later Xingling encounters the monster herself and outwits him three times by feeding him traditional New Year's foods long-life noodles, milkfish (the boniest fish in the sea), and an enormous rice cake. Finally, at the fireworks, Nian is rocketed away when he can't extinguish the flames beneath his chair because his jaws are stuck with glutinous rice flour. Set in Shanghai, Wang's story combines holiday customs, traditional lore, and a contemporary setting to create a festive story introducing this celebration to young children. Chau's colorful, cartoon-style art makes generous use of red and includes a monster whose size is his most ferocious feature. Setting details appear in both the text and illustrations, and an author's note clarifies many of the customs described. This reads aloud well, making it ideal for story hours or multicultural units.--Weisman, Kay Copyright 2016 Booklist
