Sunday, June 25, 2017

Mouse's Corner: The Nian Monster by Andrea Wang and Alina Chau

This past week Mouse got her very own library card! She also signed up for the public library's children's reading program. For every five library books she reads, she gets a stamp and a prize (a coupon for a free meal, free admission to the local kid's museum, i.e.).


The Nian Monster written by Andrea Wang and illustrated Alina Chau
Albert Whitman Company, 2016
Fiction (Children's); 32 pgs
Source: Purchased for my daughter's personal library.
Goodreads Summary: 
Tong tong! The legendary Nian monster has returned at Chinese New Year. With horns, scales, and wide, wicked jaws, Nian is intent on devouring Shanghai, starting with Xingling! The old tricks to keep him away don't work on Nian anymore, but Xingling is clever. Will her quick thinking be enough to save the city from the Nian Monster?

When I was growing up, my mom always made a point of celebrating the Chinese New Year with us. I was excited when I found this book. It sounded like something Mouse would enjoy, and sure enough, she loves it. She gets excited every time she pulls it out of her stacks. We've read it a dozen or so times and the story never gets old.

Xingling is very brave standing up to Nian monster when he appears at her window. She outsmarts him at every turn, while introducing a variety of her family's traditions. It is a great opportunity to teach young ones about a different culture. Xingling isn't alone in her efforts to save Shanghai, she has the help of her family and neighbors. 

It's a cute story, and the artwork lends itself perfectly to the novel. Mouse's favorite part is towards the end, when the fireworks go off. She loves to count the dancing dragons in the background.



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20 comments:

  1. Congratulations to Mouse on getting her library card! Vance always loved the summer reading program. Our nephew would visit for a few weeks in the summer and he would play along when he was in town too.

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    1. Kathy - Thank you! Mouse seemed to be most excited about signing up. Now she isn't so interested in reading . . . Too many other things to do, I guess.

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  2. Yay for library cards! Love the illustration for The Nian Monster, and I, too, love Chinese New Year celebrations and Lion Dances!

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    1. Jenclair - The illustrations in this one are great. We both really enjoy this book.

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  3. That is wonderful that your daughter has a library card. I still remember the reading clubs from the library when I was a kid- about 40 years ago.

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    1. Ellen - I just wish my daughter was able to attend the events for the summer reading program. She can't get the full experience I had growing up. :-( But then, I have to remind myself she is getting lots of other experiences I didn't have at summer camp during the week that I didn't have because I didn't attend camp.

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  4. Yay, Mouse has her own library card! I still have my first library card - it was such a special day for me. Hope Mouse has tons of fun and collects lots of stamps & tickets.

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    1. Iliana - She seems to have lost interest, but maybe after she gets her first stamp tomorrow, she'll find her excitement again.

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  5. How exciting! I still remember my first library card and how proud of it I was. That is a really cool program with all of the prizes for reading.

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    1. Carole - It is nice they offer that to the kids. :-)

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  6. Yay for Mouse's own library card! And this book sounds adorable, too. :)

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  7. Yay for Mouse! Even better than a ticket to the museum, her library card is THE ticket to the world! Love this :D :D :D

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    1. Donna Marie - It will come in very handy for years to come. :-)

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  8. Congratulations to Mouse! I bet she's excited. I love the library reading programs and I like the sound of the rewards that yours does. Our typically has little prizes which equals bits of junk! Of course anything that gets them reading is still pretty great!

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    1. Katherine - Thank you. She's very proud of her library card. Now to just re-ignite her interest in reading which seems to be waning as of late.

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  9. I saw this on a bunch of Children's books blogs last year. I need to put it on my picture book tbr. :)

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    1. It's a good one--at least I think so! I probably should follow more children's book blogs. I don't know why I don't . . .

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  10. I love books that teach kids about different cultures! Glad your child enjoys it too! I'm glad she loves her library! I loved going to mine growing and still do!

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    1. Stacie - I do too! My daughter seems to have a special interest in China as it is, and so I've been on the look out for books she might like related to the Chinese culture.

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