DRAGON NOODLE PARTY

The animals of the Chinese zodiac are having a party.

One sunny day, each of the animals in the Chinese zodiac heads up a hill with something special. Horse trots up the hill, pulling a cart with a big wok in it, Goat strolls along, carrying wild onions, Monkey climbs up, holding oil and spices, and so on. Each animal is charmingly depicted with earthy tones and block-print–like textures on a double spread, with only a single sentence describing the animal, how it moves, and what it brings. Compestine cleverly hints at the feast to come without giving the plot away. But wait—why is Snake, the final animal, slithering up the hill with nothing? Readers find out in the final spread, which reads, “Happy birthday, Snake!” While the story is appealing and perfect for preschool listeners, some cultural details may derail their adult caregivers. Why is Horse the first animal up the hill when, according to legend, Rat is the first in the zodiac? Why is the snake singled out? And why is the book called Dragon Noodle Partywhen noodles are only one of the items brought? This last question is answered in the backmatter, which provides clarity on the importance of noodles in birthday celebrations, information about the zodiac (and its correct order), and a recipe for dragon beard noodles. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Cute and delightful despite a few hitches.