The Runaway Rice Cake (Book Review)

Mommy’s (leasj) Rating: Fun πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚ Smart πŸ’‘ πŸ’‘ πŸ’‘

 
Kylie’s (kyliesj) Rating: Fun πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚ Smart πŸ’‘ πŸ’‘

 
One of the storybooks we read for our Chinese New Year unit was The Runaway Rice Cake by Ying Chang Compestine.Β  It was also my 4-year-old son’s and my favorite among the 5 storybooks we read.

On Chinese New Year’s eve, the Chang family prepares to share one homemade rice cake (nian-gao).Β  Suddenly, the rice cake comes alive and runs away.Β  The family runs after the runaway rice cake, which bumps into a hungry old woman.Β  The rice cake relents, and the Chang family shares it with the old woman, who ends up finishing the whole rice cake.Β  The old woman walks away grateful and full, and the Chang family walks home cold and hungry.Β  A wonderful surprise welcomes them at their home and the Changs end up celebrating their best New Year’s Eve.

My son loved listening to this story several times over.Β  It was fun to read about a rice cake magically coming to life and being chased around town by a father, mother and three young boys.

I liked the message of The Runaway Rice Cake – kindness and generosity always has a way of coming around.Β  The artwork by Tungwai Chau was also very colorful and beautiful.

The Runaway Rice Cake is definitely a fun and meaningful Chinese New Year read for young children.

Available at Cheng San Community Library, Singapore.

Last Updated on February 12, 2014 by lea

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