Why We Eat Fried Peanuts
Written by Zed Zha
Illustrated by Sian James
Published by Quarto Group
A Celebration of Family and Lunar New Year Traditions
Join Mèng, a Chinese American girl, as she prepares for the Lunar New Year festivities with her family and discovers the significance of ancestral stories and the history behind the Mandarin language and traditional foods eaten during the holiday.
Mèng’s father shares with her the family story of tài nai nai, Mèng’s great-grandmother, and a very important ancestor for the family. Tài nai nai’s brave act of courage many years ago inspired generations after and teaches valuable lessons that every child can learn from today.
Along the way, see how food plays an important role in the festivities and why one food—peanuts—is an important snack. The simple recipe for fried peanuts at the end of the story provides a fun, easy way to include the Lunar New Year in your annually celebrated holidays.
Through the tale of tài nai nai, you will also learn significant moments in Chinese history and how to say a few words in Mandarin, such as:
太奶奶 – great-grandmother
热心 – warmhearted
故事 – story
帮助 – help
宝宝 – baby
幸运 – lucky
母亲 – mother
and more!
Rich with vibrant and joyful illustrations, Why We Eat Fried Peanuts honors the concept of ancestry, a pillar of Chinese culture that is remembered during the Lunar New Year celebrations. Through this engaging story, discover the rich history and culture of the Lunar New Year and learn how to apply the values of strength and courage all year round.
Primary ISBN: 9780760395523
Publication Date: January 2025
Available As: Hardcover, eBook
Picture Book, Age 06 or older
Community Represented: Chinese/Chinese American
Themes: Celebrations, Celebrations: Ching Ming (Qingming), Celebrations: Lunar New Year, Cultural Empowerment, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Celebrations & Traditions, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Family, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Food, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Storytelling, Family Relationship: Grandparents, Family Relationship: Parents, Generation: 1st, Genre: Historical, Identity: Multilingual, Multilingual: Mandarin Featured Words, Own Voices/Lived Experience
Setting: United States
Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: 1st Generation
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
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